By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Anloga (VR), Dec 6, GNA- Residents in Anloga District of the Volta Region have been urged to comply with the gun amnesty exercise announced by the Interior Minister, Mr Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak to avoid prosecution.
The amnesty initiative, which spans December 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026 across the country, aims to eradicate illegal and unlicensed firearms.
Madam Comfort Hebert Mensah, Crime Officer at Anloga Police Station, during community empowerment programme organised by the NCCE, said that all individuals with unlicensed guns or those not following gun regulations were encouraged to take advantage of the amnesty.
“The gun amnesty is expected to help reduce the number of unlicensed firearms in circulation and by so doing, the government aims to enhance public safety and security in the country,” she said.
She explained that the importance of the initiative was in its potential to decrease gun-related crimes and accidents and encouraged the residents to surrender or license their guns to minimise risks associated with unregulated firearms.
She said the initiative could alleviate crime by reducing the availability of unlicensed guns that could be used in criminal activities and added that fewer unlicensed guns meant less likelihood of it falling into the wrong hands, which could be the more reason why every individual with unlicenced or illegal firearms should comply with the directives.
“All guns should be licensed before use according to our regulations. The amnesty period allows individuals to regularise their firearms without facing prosecution. After the amnesty period, all individuals found with unlicensed guns might face prosecution though the exact punishments were not specified by the Minister but typically, possessing an unlicensed firearm is a serious offense in many jurisdictions.”
Madam Mensah said that the government was encouraging all citizens to take responsibility for their firearms so it could have better control over gun ownership and usage.
She emphasised that the underlying goal of the gun amnesty was to enhance public safety and reduce unlicensed guns in circulation which could contribute to a safer environment for all individuals as well as curb crime related issues in various communities.
She noted that the Interior Ministry had also placed a temporary ban on the use of firearms in traditional festivals and funerals until the end of the amnesty period.
Ghana News Agency learnt that the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons had indicated that the nationwide gun amnesty was already yielding positive results with citizens voluntarily surrendering illicit weapons without fear of arrest or interrogation.
The amnesty also offers forgiveness to anyone possessing an unregistered firearm, regardless of the weapon’s type, origin, or duration of ownership.
It was indicated that under the Arms and Ammunition Act 1972, any unregistered firearm is considered illicit but the sector Minister had opened a temporary window where all such weapons could be turned in without prosecution while weapons would be destroyed publicly to ensure transparency and public confidence of such guns not returning to the system.
It was gathered that receipts would be issued to triplicate and serve as proof of surrender and allow cross-checking before destruction.
GNA also gathered that there were about an estimated 1.2 million illicit arms in the system, according to the last national survey conducted a decade ago.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Christian Akorlie