The government has scheduled July 9 to hold its eighth arms destruction ceremony.

This comes after the end of the government’s gun amnesty programme. Aside from the weapons which were voluntarily surrendered, those seized by security agencies in operations will also be destroyed, the Interior Minister Muntake Mohammed has announced.

Addressing the media yesterday, Tuesday, June 23, the Minister indicated that the ceremony will be held at the Police depot in Accra, citing that this forms part of the government’s efforts to ensure public safety, particularly to protect the vulnerable, especially children.

“Ghana’s future must not be compromised by illicit arms. Our children deserve classrooms, not fear. Our communities deserve safety, not violence. As part of post-armament measures, the government will organise its eighth arms destruction ceremony on Thursday, 9th July, at the Police Depot, Accra, at 10:00 a.m. At this event, over 2,000 seized and surrendered firearms will be destroyed,” he noted.

The announcement comes days after the Ministry suspended the operating licence of Kantanka Security Services Limited following a shooting incident at Kwabenya that left former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo injured.

According to the Ministry, the suspension was prompted by alleged regulatory breaches involving the use of unapproved uniforms as well as the possession and use of firearms and ammunition by some personnel of the security company while on duty.

The government says the latest measures form part of broader efforts to strengthen oversight of firearms possession and improve public safety across the country.

Revocation of gun licenses

Mr Muntaka also announced that rffective Tuesday, June 23, permits for all firearms licensed nationwide have been revoked, citing the move as a major of a sweeping overhaul of Ghana’s firearms regulatory system to ensure responsible handling of legally acquired firearms and ensure public safety.

Highlighting the gaps in the current licensing system, Minister Muntaka Mohammed indicated that the new system will ensure thorough background checks on all applicants. Also, all firearm owners will be required to reapply and undergo the same vetting process before any licence is issued to them.

“In the last few months, we have seen an increase in some individuals committing suicide with firearms that are registered. Because of that, from this afternoon, all permits that have been granted to any individual are hereby revoked.

“We are revoking them, and we are opening a window where everyone will have to come forward again to re-register their guns because we have changed the procedure. We have realised that there is a short gap in the registration procedure that we’ve been using. Now we are introducing mental health. Before we give you the sidearm, we have to be sure that you have the mental stability to hold the firearms,” he said.

Under the new regime, all firearm holders will be required to reapply for their licences and undergo a more rigorous vetting process aimed at strengthening gun control and enhancing public safety.

New license requirements

The Minister revealed that, before an applicant is granted a licence, he will be required to go through a mandatory mental health assessment, drug screening, and structured firearms training.

The Minister expressed concern that some individuals have used licensed firearms for purposes other than those for which they were originally authorised, posing a threat to public safety.