Govt Moves to Regulate Gun Use at Traditional Ceremonies      

The government has begun consultations with traditional authorities across the country to regulate the use of firearms at cultural gatherings and outdooring ceremonies as part of efforts to strengthen public safety and promote responsible weapons handling.

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, disclosed that the initiative seeks to ensure that only trained and authorised individuals are permitted to handle firearms during traditional and ceremonial events.

Addressing the media, the Minister acknowledged that gun firing has long been associated with certain cultural practices but stressed the need for greater oversight to prevent accidents and misuse.

“We are engaging traditional leaders to ensure that we know it is part of our traditional culture. Sometimes during outdoor ceremonies, there are people assigned to do the firing,” he said.

According to him, the government intends to work closely with chiefs and community leaders to identify individuals who can be trained and certified to perform ceremonial gun firing safely.

“We want to engage them and let them know which ones are not good for such occasions. We want them to be trained so we know which arms they are using,” he stated.

Mr. Mubarak expressed concern over the manner in which firearms are sometimes discharged at public events, noting that the lack of professionalism poses significant risks to participants and spectators.

“You go to some of these places, and they are firing without being professional,” he observed.

The Interior Minister revealed that discussions are currently underway with the National House of Chiefs and the various Regional Houses of Chiefs to build consensus before the policy is fully implemented nationwide.

“We are engaging the Regional House of Chiefs and the National House of Chiefs, so we build consensus before we proceed,” he said.

He added that consultations have already commenced in several regions and would continue across the country.

“I have been to a number of regions engaging them, and we are going to continue vigorously,” he noted.

Mr. Mubarak emphasized that the long-term objective is to designate and train specific persons who will be authorised to handle firearms during traditional ceremonies while discouraging unsafe and unregulated gun use.

His comments come shortly after the government announced the suspension of all registered firearm licences as part of broader measures to reform Ghana’s weapons ownership and control system.