By Mavis Paintsil, Accra
Civil Society Organisations working on security and peace in Ghana have thrown their weight behind calls for stronger firearm regulation, but are urging the Ministry of the Interior to pause its “rushed and unclear” directive to revoke all existing civilian firearm licences.
Addressing journalists at the International Press Centre in Accra on Monday, the Jatikai Centre for Human Security and Peace Building and partner CSOs said while they support reforms around mental health checks, drug testing and firearms training, the current approach risks punishing law-abiding citizens due to weak state systems.
“We are not against gun control”
“We are not against responsible gun control. We are not against mental health assessment, drug testing, firearms training, background checks, or stronger state oversight,” the group stated in a press release signed by Jatikay Executive Director, Adib Saani.
The group acknowledged the concerns raised by the Interior Minister, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, noting that Ghana’s current firearms law is “old and fragmented” and fails to address modern realities like digital databases, private security growth, and weapons trafficking.
However, they questioned the state’s readiness to implement the directive. The Ministry has asked licence holders to undergo drug tests with NACOC, mental health evaluations, and practical training at approved ranges such as the Tesano Police Shooting Range.
“The question is: what is the operational protocol?” the CSOs asked. “The institutions expected to implement this directive do not appear to have been adequately prepared.”
Call for clarity and due process
The coalition is demanding clarity on whether the directive is a revocation, suspension, recall, audit, or re-registration, arguing that “these words have different legal meanings. Citizens must not be left confused.”
They are also calling on the Ministry to publish the legal basis for the directive, implementation guidelines, categories of persons affected, timelines, cost structure, and an appeal mechanism for those denied renewal.
” A firearm licence is not a casual document. It is issued by the state after an official process. If the state believes the process is weak, the state has every right to reform it. But reform must respect administrative fairness,” the statement said.
Push for new arms bill and decentralised training
Instead of ad hoc directives, the CSOs want government to urgently pass a new arms bill that Jatikay says it participated in drafting. The bill, they noted, proposes clearer licensing procedures, better data systems, and public-private partnerships for certified shooting ranges.
They also stressed that Ghana needs decentralised and certified firearms safety infrastructure. “It is unrealistic to expect citizens from all over the country to rely on one or two facilities,” the group said, adding that lawful owners must be “regulated firmly, but treated fairly” and not lumped with criminals involved in armed robbery, land disputes and chieftaincy conflicts.
8 recommendations to government
The CSOs presented 8 recommendations, including a phased region-by-region audit instead of a blanket revocation, public education before enforcement, disclosure of data on valid licences, and the establishment of an independent complaints and appeals mechanism.
“Ghana needs stronger firearms control. But stronger control must not mean disorderly control. It must not mean panic administration,” the statement concluded.
The group said it remains available to support government, Parliament, NACSA and security agencies in building “a safer, more accountable, and more modern firearms control regime for Ghana.”
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