The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of the Interior and the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA), has announced plans to implement a nationwide gun amnesty soon to tackle the escalating spread of illegal firearms and rising gun-related violence across the country.
In a statement issued by NACSA on Monday, October 27, the Commission expressed deep concern over the increasing use of unregistered weapons, which have turned minor disputes and social events into violent incidents and tragedies. NACSA warned that illegal guns pose a serious threat to national peace and security.
The forthcoming Gun Amnesty Programme will allow individuals in possession of unregistered or illegal firearms to surrender them voluntarily without fear of arrest, interrogation, or prosecution. During the amnesty, anyone handing in a weapon will be exempt from charges, as the focus is on promoting peace rather than punishment.
The initiative will be led by the Minister for the Interior in partnership with the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies. Its primary goal is to enhance national safety by reducing the number of illegal firearms in circulation.
“This is not a witch hunt or an attempt to prosecute anyone,” the official statement stressed. “It is about saving lives, preventing tragedies, and giving Ghanaians a chance to choose peace over violence.”
NACSA called on all citizens who possess hidden, buried, or stored unregistered firearms to prepare to hand them over once the amnesty begins. Each surrendered weapon represents “one less instrument of fear and one more step toward a peaceful Ghana.”
The Commission also urged the public to help raise awareness about the programme, emphasizing that national unity and cooperation are crucial to ending gun violence in Ghana.
For further details, the public is encouraged to contact the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons at 059 907 0944.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson #ahotoronline.com