The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, has announced the immediate suspension of all firearm licences in Ghana as part of reforms to the country's weapons ownership and control system.

The directive took effect at 12 noon on Tuesday, June 23, and is aimed at strengthening oversight, accountability, and national security.

Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, Mr Mubarak said the decision followed concerns about weaknesses in the firearm licensing regime, including compliance issues and the misuse of legally registered weapons.

“Everybody in Ghana who currently holds a legitimate license to hold a gun, today (Tuesday, June 23), I am suspending all of it. All of it that everybody is holding,” he said.

He said the suspension would allow authorities to conduct a comprehensive audit and restructuring of the firearms control system.

According to the minister, the move was prompted by what he described as a “new phenomenon” that threatens public safety.

The announcement comes amid reports of a shooting incident involving former Dome-Kwabenya MP Adwoa Safo at a property linked to Israel Safo in the Greater Accra Region.

The incident is connected to an ongoing succession dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission following the death of its founder, Apostle Professor Kwadwo Safo, in September last year.

In a statement, the Kwadwo Safo family alleged that Ms Safo was at the property to serve a court injunction during an installation event involving Israel Safo when the shooting occurred. The matter is under police investigation.

Authorities say the nationwide suspension is intended to stabilise the firearms licensing system while investigations and reforms are undertaken.