By Joseph Agrace Wiyorbie
Wa (U/W/R), Dec. 31, GNA – The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA) has engaged key stakeholders to spearhead the ongoing Gun Amnesty Programme (GAP) rolled out by Government in the Upper West Region.
The programme, launched by Mr Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Minister for the Interior, on November 11, 2025, runs for six weeks. It began on December 1, 2025, and is expected to end on January 15, 2026.
Held on the theme, “Silencing the Guns to Save Our Lives,” the programme seeks to encourage Ghanaian citizens in possession of unregistered firearms to either register or voluntarily surrender them as part of efforts to sustain peace and security in the country.
The engagement brought together Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs), Coordinating Directors, heads of security agencies and departments, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, and the media.
Dr Adams Adamu Alhassan Bonaa, Executive Secretary of NACSA, said the meeting was timely, noting that illicit firearms continued to fuel crime, undermine social cohesion, erode public confidence, and fuel conflict and insecurity across the country.
He underscored the critical role of stakeholders, saying their collective efforts were needed to sensitise citizens on the importance of the Gun Amnesty Programme.
Dr Bonaa emphasised that stakeholders were strong partners in awareness creation, sensitisation and mobilisation, and encouraged them to champion the cause to ensure the success of the programme.
“I urge you to translate the experience and knowledge gained into concrete actions at the community level. Let this programme inspire you to become ambassadors of peace, custodians of security and champions of the gun amnesty programme,” he stressed.
He noted that many firearms were held by civilians for personal protection but often ended up causing more harm than the safety they were intended to provide.
Dr Bonaa explained that the GAP was therefore introduced to give individuals the opportunity to voluntarily surrender illicit or unregistered firearms without fear or intimidation, in the interest of national security.
“I can assure you that this gun amnesty programme guarantees confidentiality and ensures the safety of individuals who surrender their weapons and ammunition at designated centres,” he said.
He described stakeholders as trusted voices within communities who were well positioned to dispel fear and misinformation, address cultural practices, and support local-level mobilisation and peace education under the GAP.
Dr Bonaa commended them for their dedication to peace and unity, describing their role as essential to the successful implementation of the programme.
He urged stakeholders to spearhead sensitisation efforts, build public confidence in the amnesty process, identify conflict-prone communities and influential local leaders, and reinforce the message that the programme was non-punitive, safe and confidential.
Dr Bonaa cited statistics from the Ghana Police Service (GPS) and NACSA indicating that in the first half of 2025 alone, 166 deaths were recorded through gun-related incidents.
The data further showed 322 armed robberies, 342 murder cases, 130 weapons retrieved, 93 injuries, and 70 cases of unlawful possession of firearms within the same period.
He said the figures posed a critical threat to national peace, stability and development, underscoring the need for inclusive efforts to curb the proliferation of illicit arms.
Dr Bonaa warned that individuals who failed to surrender or register their firearms and ammunition within the amnesty period would face the full rigours of the law if found in possession of illicit weapons after the programme.
Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing, Upper West Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said the theme of the GAP was not merely a government initiative but a call to action for individuals and organisations to prioritise peace over conflict and work towards a more just and humane society.
He said collective commitment was essential to addressing the proliferation and misuse of illicit small arms and ammunition, which remained a major threat to peace, security and sustainable development.
“As we may be aware, peace is not sustained by laws alone; it is sustained by people—by informed leaders, vigilant institutions, and communities that choose dialogue over violence and responsibility over fear,” he said.
He added that the misuse of small arms not only claimed lives but also destroyed livelihoods, weakened institutions, and stalled development. “No investor thrives in an environment of insecurity, and no community flourishes where fear prevails,” he stressed.
Some participants called for an extension of the programme and intensified public sensitisation to help citizens better understand the importance of gun amnesty and the need to surrender unregistered firearms and ammunition.
NACSA was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 736 of 2007, with the mandate to deal with matters relating to small arms and light weapons and related materials in Ghana.
Its objectives include encouraging the voluntary surrender of unlicensed or illicit firearms, regulating and monitoring the use of firearms, and reducing gun violence to promote a safer and more secure society.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali /Audrey Dekalu