The Ministry of the Interior has announced plans to publicly destroy all weapons surrendered and seized under Ghana’s gun amnesty programme on July 9, marking the official conclusion of the initiative.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak disclosed the plan during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, indicating that the government would soon provide further details on the next phase of firearms regulation in the country.
“This morning I’ll be addressing the press about this gun amnesty which has ended. Because we are going to destroy all the seized weapons on the 9th of July,” he said.
The announcement comes as the government intensifies efforts to strengthen oversight of firearm ownership and usage following the nationwide suspension of all active firearm licences.
According to the Minister, the latest measures have been prompted by concerns over the misuse of legally registered weapons and emerging threats to public safety.
He noted that a recent incident linked to the Kristo Asafo Mission, popularly known as the Kantanka church, has heightened national discussions on gun control and the effectiveness of existing firearm regulations.
As part of ongoing reforms, the Ministry of the Interior is introducing stricter requirements for individuals seeking to obtain or renew firearm licences.
Under the revised framework, applicants will be required to undergo mandatory mental health assessments, drug screening and formal firearms training at an approved shooting range before licences are issued.
The Ministry says the reforms are intended to improve accountability within the firearms licensing system, enhance public safety and reduce the risk of gun-related incidents involving legally owned weapons.
The gun amnesty programme, which allowed individuals to voluntarily surrender illegal firearms without facing prosecution, formed part of broader government efforts to reduce the circulation of unregistered weapons and strengthen national security.
Authorities believe the initiative has contributed to efforts to remove potentially dangerous weapons from communities and improve monitoring of firearm possession across the country.
The Ministry is expected to provide additional information on the July 9 destruction exercise, including the quantity and types of weapons collected, as well as details of the new licensing procedures during an upcoming media briefing.
Government officials maintain that the latest reforms represent a significant step toward establishing a more robust and transparent firearm control regime while ensuring that weapons ownership is limited to individuals who meet strict safety and security standards.
