The Director of Communications for the United Party (UP), Solomon Owusu, is calling for the heads of those responsible for issuing licenses to private security companies and individuals in Ghana.
He believes those persons have not discharged their duties well, leading to weaknesses in Ghana’s firearms regulatory framework and ultimately the suspension of these licenses by the sector Minister.
His comments follow a directive by the Minister of Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, suspending all active gun licenses for owners to reapply and undergo certain assessments before renewal.
Reacting to the development, Owusu noted that the Minister’s comments are troubling, suggesting bearers of those licenses never underwent any checks as required by the law.
According to him, there is no guarantee that those responsible for ensuring wielders of gun licenses are undertaken through mental checks would do so once they still remain in office.
Speaking on the BigIssue segment on the NewDay morning show on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Solomon Owusu described the Minister’s statement as troubling.
“The Minister’s statement is troubling. Is he saying that all those that have been licensed to carry guns, they never went through any mental checks? And if that were the case, why are heads not rolling? Before anyone is handed a gun, that person must go through a mental check.
“What I gathered from what the Minister is saying is that, he suspects those that have been licensed currently, did not go through mental check. If that was the case, then those that gave them the license, why are you not sacking them? What is the guarantee that with the same personalities being in place, they will do what you’re expecting of them?” he quizzed.
He accused the Minister of taking the action because of the recent shooting incident involving former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo.
He avers the action wouldn’t have been taken if the recent shooting did not involve a former Minister of State and legislator.
“In this country, matters are only taken serious when it involves a politician. Adwoa Safo comes into the fray and all of a sudden, hell is breaking lose. If it had happened to an ordinary person, would you have caused this to happen?” he asked.
Owusu’s comments stem from the sector ministry’s announcement of a sweeping overhaul of Ghana’s firearms regulatory framework, communicated by the Minister on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
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.
Addressing a press briefing in Accra, the sector Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, said the reforms were necessary to address weaknesses in the current licensing system and curb the misuse of legally acquired firearms.
According to him, the new licensing requirements will include mandatory mental health assessments, drug screening, and structured firearms training for all applicants before licences are granted.
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.
“In the last few months, we have seen an increase in some individuals committing suicide with fire arms that are registered. Because of that from this afternoon, all permits that have been granted to any individual is 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,” he said
As part of the government’s efforts to tighten firearms regulation, Mr. Mubarak also announced plans to destroy more than 2,000 firearms that have either been voluntarily surrendered or seized under the national gun amnesty programme.
The announcement followed days after the Ministry suspended the operating licence of Kantanka Security Services Limited after 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.
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