The Member of Parliament for the Asawase constituency and the Minister nominee for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has pledged to tackle the misuse and proliferation of small arms in Ghana.

Speaking during his vetting in Parliament on Friday, January 24, he outlined plans to leverage technology and collaboration to strengthen the nation’s surveillance and tracking systems for firearms

“One of the major things I want to do immediately is the introduction of IT to track who has been given a gun and for what purpose it was approved,” he stated.

“With a computerised database, at the touch of a button, I can know who has been licensed to carry small arms or even larger weapons. This will be the starting point for enhancing our national security strategy through effective surveillance.”

He expressed concern over the current state of firearm registration, noting a lack of reliable data.

“If you go to the National Security and want to pinpoint who has registered their arms, even those with permits, you’ll be shocked to find that there’s no comprehensive data readily available. We need to measure first because it is only when you measure that you can achieve,” he emphasised.

Mr Muntaka also highlighted the need to curb the illegal entry and circulation of arms.

“We need to be serious about the proliferation of small arms, where they are coming from, how they are moving around, and how people are using them. If we have the right gadgets and systems in place, I’m confident it will help us minimise the proliferation and track usage effectively,” he said.

Mr Mubarak emphasised the importance of teamwork and collaboration within the security sector, stating that the expertise of experienced professionals will play a vital role in implementing these reforms when he is approved to be the minister.

“I am joining a team of experts with years of experience, including insights from other jurisdictions, and together, I believe we can make a significant impact,” he added.