Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak Revokes All Gun Permits Amid Sweeping National Security Reforms

In a major move to overhaul public safety, Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has announced the revocation of all existing firearm permits across the country. This directive requires every licensed gun owner to undergo a fresh registration process under a significantly stricter safety regime. The decision comes in response to a concerning rise in firearm-related suicides and criminal activities involving legally registered weapons. Under the new framework, applicants must successfully complete mandatory mental health assessments, drug screenings, and firearms competency training—measures designed to close long-standing gaps in the national arms registry and ensure that only fit individuals possess lethal weapons.

The Ministry's crackdown extends specifically to the private security sector, where firms have been found exploiting legal loopholes to arm their personnel. Minister Muntaka reaffirmed that under the Police Act of 1970 and 1992 regulations, private security companies are strictly prohibited from using firearms, being limited instead to non-lethal equipment like tasers or pepper spray. The Minister warned that firms using guards with personal firearm permits for business operations face severe penalties, including the potential loss of their operating licenses. This effort to disarm private guards is part of a broader strategy to ensure that only the state's security forces bear lethal arms, following the recent surrender of 4,038 unregistered firearms during a national gun amnesty program.

However, the blanket nature of the license revocation has sparked significant debate among security experts and advocacy groups. The Foundation for Security Development in Africa (FOSDA), led by Madam Theodora Williams Anti, criticized the move as overly broad, arguing it penalizes responsible gun owners rather than targeting the roots of gun violence. Similarly, security consultant Richard Kumadoe likened the mass revocation to canceling all driver’s licenses to stop bad driving, warning that the lack of clear transitional guidelines could create legal uncertainty for both citizens and law enforcement. These critics are calling for a more evidence-based approach and the strengthening of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons Act to prevent illicit arms proliferation.

These legislative and regulatory shifts occur against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny regarding Ghana’s security apparatus and port controls. While the Interior Ministry is currently training regional ministers on the new National Security and Intelligence Agencies Act 2026 (ACT 1168) to prevent the partisan use of security forces, other agencies are facing transparency challenges. The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) recently admitted to procedural failures at the port that allowed a 320kg shipment of methamphetamine, valued at $208 million, to reach Australia undetected. Together, these developments signal a period of intensive reform as the government seeks to bolster domestic stability and international security standards.