Interior Minister Revokes All Firearm Permits
Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak has revoked all permits granted to individuals holding side arms or firearms, citing a disturbing rise in suicides among licensed gun owners.
Speaking at a press conference on June 23, 2026, he explained that a review had revealed a gap in the previous process.
The new procedure will feature mental health assessment and drug testing.
This is on the back of a new and worrying trend where affluent persons who legally registered firearms are now using them to take their own lives.
“In the last few months, we have seen an increase in such individuals committing suicide. Effective from the afternoon, all existing firearm permits have been revoked.”
The Minister said the government is opening a new medium for everyone to re-register their guns because the registration procedure has been changed.
“Before we give you the sidearm, we have to be sure that you have the mental stability to hold it,” Mubarak stated.
He added that many registered gun owners are also found to be using drugs, and “now you have to go through a drug test to be sure you are not on drugs.”
The Minister also noted that many Ghanaians own guns without knowing how to use them, leading to accidental injuries and deaths.
This, he said, will also be addressed by the new procedure.
“Some will say, why not wait till December? In six months, we will save more lives,” he said.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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