By Eric Appah Marfo
Accra, June 23, GNA â Government has announced new requirements for firearm ownership, including mandatory mental health assessment, drug screening and competency training.
The move is to strengthen public safety and address gaps in the countryâs firearm registration regime.
Mr Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, Minister for the Interior, announced the development on Tuesday at a press conference in Accra on the outcome of the 2025/2026 Gun Amnesty Programme and the way forward.
He explained that all existing permits granted to individuals to possess sidearms and firearms had been revoked to pave the way for a revised registration process.
The new measures, he said, were intended to ensure that only qualified and responsible persons were permitted to own firearms.
The Minister said government had identified shortcomings in the existing registration system that required urgent attention.
âWe have realised that there is a short gap in the registration procedure that we will be using,â he said.
Under the new framework, persons seeking to acquire or retain firearm licences will be required to undergo mental health evaluations, drug tests and firearms handling training before approval is granted.
Mr Muntaka said the Mental Health Authority would be responsible for assessing the psychological fitness of applicants, while the Narcotics Control Commission would conduct drug screening exercises.
The Ghana Police Service, through its 25 regional commands, would also undertake competency training and assessments to ensure applicants possess the necessary skills to safely handle firearms.
The Minister said the changes were aimed at enhancing public safety and reducing the risks associated with firearm ownership.
He noted that authorities had observed instances where persons with mental health challenges and others using illicit substances had obtained firearm licences under the previous system.
Mr Muntaka also cited cases of accidental shootings involving licensed firearm holders who lacked adequate training in the use and handling of weapons.
âWe have seen incidents where innocent persons are injured or even killed, not because it was deliberate, but because the person handling the firearm was not properly trained,â he said.
To improve access to training, government is considering partnerships with private organisations interested in establishing certified shooting ranges to complement police training facilities.
Mr Muntaka said discussions were also underway to ensure that fees associated with the new requirements remained affordable and did not discourage compliance.
He explained that persons who had already paid firearm registration fees for 2026 would not be required to pay those fees again, although some charges may apply for the additional screening and training processes.
The Minister, in a related development, said there was a rise in gun-related suicides involving legally registered firearm owners, describing the trend as worrying and one of the factors that informed the review of the registration regime.
He urged the public to cooperate with the new measures, adding that public safety must take precedence over individual convenience.
GNA
Reporter: Eric Appah Marfo
[email protected]
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong