Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has called on gun owners across the country to prioritise renewing their firearm licences, warning that lapses in compliance fuel the circulation of unlicensed weapons and heighten security risks.
Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting in Parliament on Tuesday, September 30, the IGP explained that the Police Service has intensified its national sensitisation campaign on firearm licence renewals. The initiative, he said, is aimed at ensuring effective regulation of civilian-held firearms and curbing the misuse of unregistered guns in criminal activities.
“What we are doing now is sensitising people who are in possession of guns; they have a licence, but when it expires, they do not renew it as expected. So this exercise is ongoing—we are getting the list of all, so that whenever the time comes, the police will call you to renew their licence,” Mr Yohuno told the Committee.
He further highlighted that the renewal process is fast and accessible, taking less than 30 minutes at designated firearms offices. “Immediately you check your records, the licence is renewed. It doesn’t take time at all,” he stressed.
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The IGP underscored that strengthening firearm regulation is central to public safety, especially in light of the Auditor-General’s report that flagged rising numbers of unlicensed weapons across the country. Security experts warn that unregulated firearms are often linked to violent crimes, community conflicts, and armed robberies.
The Police Service is therefore urging all gun owners to take advantage of the ongoing sensitisation exercise to regularise their documentation and support the state’s efforts in ensuring responsible firearm ownership.
