The Deputy Minister for the Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has announced that the government has placed a temporary embargo on the issuance of new firearm licences as it reviews existing regulations governing gun ownership in Ghana.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr Terlabi said the move forms part of efforts to enhance public safety and strengthen the country’s firearm control regime.
“We are no longer issuing new licences to anyone. We are currently reviewing the regulations, and no new licences will be issued until the review is completed,” he stated.
According to him, the Ministry’s primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of citizens, adding that the growing number of firearms in circulation has become a matter of concern.
“Our ministry’s mandate is to ensure the safety of the people. It will be sad that because of one person’s inconvenience, many people become unsafe,” he said.
Mr Terlabi explained that government records show a significant number of firearms are in the hands of private individuals, making it necessary to tighten regulatory oversight.
“Per our register, if you see the number of guns that people are wielding, you will understand the concern,” he noted.
He warned that unqualified persons possessing firearms could pose serious risks to public safety.
“For instance, at a gathering where no one has a firearm, one person who is not qualified to handle a gun may show up and something unfortunate happens,” he said.
The Deputy Minister stressed that the government’s decision was based on a careful assessment of the risks involved.
“We weighed the pros and cons. We do not want to wait for more people to be harmed by people wielding guns,” he stated.
Mr Terlabi further emphasised that firearm training remains a critical requirement for prospective licence holders.
“The training is part of the requirement,” he said.
He explained that under the current legal framework, the issuance of firearm licences ultimately rests with the Interior Minister.
“It is at the discretion of the Minister to grant you a licence, whether or not you are qualified,” he noted.
While new licences have been suspended, the Deputy Minister clarified that existing firearm licences can still be renewed.
“We are yet to issue a fresh licence to anyone because we are reviewing some of the laws. However, we are renewing old licences,” he said.
He added that government is developing new guidelines that will shape the future licensing regime once the review process is completed.
“We have put an embargo on issuing new licences. We are bringing new guidelines,” he added.
Mr Terlabi urged gun owners to comply with existing regulations by registering their firearms and ensuring all required documentation is up to date.
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