The Ministry of the Interior has unveiled sweeping reforms to Ghana’s firearm licensing system, introducing mandatory mental health assessments, drug screening and firearms training for all applicants as part of efforts to strengthen gun control and enhance public safety.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak announced the new measures during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, saying the existing licensing regime contained significant gaps that allowed individuals to obtain firearm permits without adequate psychological evaluation or practical training.
Under the revised framework, applicants seeking a new firearm licence or a licence renewal will be required to successfully complete three key stages: a mental health assessment, a drug screening test and certified firearms training.
According to the minister, the necessary institutions have already been identified to support the implementation of the new system.
“We have a training range at Tesano. The Narcotics Control Commission is ready to conduct the drug tests, and the Mental Health Authority is also prepared to carry out the mental health assessments,” he said.
The announcement comes amid renewed public concern over firearm use following reports of a shooting incident involving former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo, at a property linked to Israel Safo in the Greater Accra Region.
The incident is reportedly connected to an ongoing succession dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission following the death of its founder, Kwadwo Safo, in September last year.
The dispute has triggered competing claims over the leadership of the church and its affiliated institutions, with legal proceedings currently underway.
In a statement, the Kwadwo Safo family alleged that Adwoa Safo had visited the property to serve a court injunction during an installation ceremony involving Israel Safo when the shooting occurred. The allegations remain under investigation by the police.
Beyond the new health and training requirements, the Interior Minister revealed plans to tighten background checks for firearm applicants. He said security agencies would be tasked with conducting comprehensive vetting before any licence is approved.
“The first step will be to refer applicants to the BNI and the CID for background checks. They will verify through their records that the applicant has not been involved in criminal activity,” he explained.
Mr Mubarak also cautioned firearm owners against using weapons licensed for personal protection in private security operations, stressing that such practices violate licensing conditions and could attract sanctions.
The ministry is additionally pursuing the digitisation of the firearm licensing process to improve monitoring, record-keeping and enforcement nationwide.
While outlining the reforms, the minister did not indicate how applicants in remote and rural communities, particularly farmers who rely on licensed firearms for personal and property protection, would access the Tesano-based training facility and other mandatory requirements.
The new measures form part of the government’s broader efforts to address concerns about the misuse of legally registered firearms and strengthen public confidence in the country’s firearm regulatory system.