All gun licence holders to undergo mental health checks as Interior Minister suspends permits
Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has announced the immediate suspension of all active firearm licences across the country.
The decision follows the reported suicides of three wealthy individuals who used firearms within the past three months. According to the minister, all firearm licence holders must now undergo fresh mental health assessments, drug screening, and firearms handling training before their licences can be renewed.
Mr Mubarak made the announcement during an interview on Accra-based Joy FM on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. He indicated that the new measures are aimed at strengthening public safety and addressing gaps in Ghana’s firearm licensing system.
The minister noted that the current licensing process relies mainly on written applications and background checks, without mandatory psychiatric evaluations, drug tests, or practical firearms training. He argued that these omissions have contributed to weaknesses in the system, highlighted by recent incidents involving licensed firearm owners.
Under the new policy, licence holders will be required to undergo psychiatric assessments conducted by the Mental Health Authority, drug tests administered by the Narcotics Control Commission, and practical firearms training at police-approved shooting ranges before their licences are renewed.
The nationwide exercise is expected to begin on June 24, 2026, with regional police commands tasked with providing training facilities for firearm owners across the country.
Mr Mubarak explained that the law empowers the Minister for the Interior to suspend or revoke firearm licences whenever public safety concerns arise. He cited both the recent suicides and the Kwabenya shooting incident involving personnel linked to a private security company as factors influencing the decision.
He also warned private security operators against using firearms licensed to individuals for commercial security activities, describing such practices as a violation of the law.
Additionally, the minister announced that more than 4,000 firearms surrendered during the national gun amnesty conducted between December 2025 and January 2026 would be publicly destroyed on July 9, 2026.
The latest directive forms part of the Ministry for the Interior’s broader review of Ghana’s firearm licensing regime and makes mental health evaluations, drug screening, and practical firearms training mandatory conditions for licence renewal.
