The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA) is urging Ghanaians to take advantage of a nationwide gun amnesty programme to be announced soon.
According to the Commission, the initiative which is being prepared by the government and the Ministry of the Interior, is part of efforts to tackle the growing circulation of illegal firearms and the rise in gun-related violence across the country.
In a statement issued on October 27, NACSA expressed deep concern over what it described as the increasing infiltration of illicit weapons into communities, homes, social gatherings, and traditional events.
“This will be a chance for every citizen in possession of an unregistered or illicit firearm to surrender it, walk free, and help make Ghana safer for all. This is not a witch hunt, neither is it focused on prosecution. It is simply about saving lives, preventing tragedy, and giving every Ghanaian the chance to choose peace over violence,” the statement said.
The Commission further appealed to the public to prepare ahead of the official declaration of the amnesty.
“We are, therefore, calling on all Ghanaians who have illicit firearms whether hidden at home, buried on a farm, or kept ‘just in case’ to prepare now. Get ready to hand it in when the time comes. Each weapon surrendered will be one less instrument of fear, one less threat to our children’s safety, and one more step toward a peaceful Ghana.”
Head of Communications and Media at the Commission, Carl Nii Anyetei Sowah, said the upcoming exercise would be different from past gun amnesties.
Speaking on TV3, he explained that this programme has been carefully designed with new policy directives and strategies to ensure meaningful results.
“Ghanaians should take advantage of the window of opportunity this gun amnesty will offer when it is declared so that they can surrender their firearms,” he urged.
He explained, “That window of opportunity means that when you surrender your firearm you’re not going to be prosecuted, no charges will be pressed against you, no questions will be asked.”
Mr. Sowah added that both the Interior Ministry and the government are “seriously considering” the programme and will soon announce its details.
“Gun amnesty is coming. The minister and the government is seriously considering it. When it comes, take advantage of it so that together we can make the country safe,” he stressed.
He noted that he could not provide specifics on the timelines or modalities of the exercise for security reasons, and those details would be announced by the Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak.
Carl Sowah however assured that this year’s amnesty will be more effective than previous ones.
“I can also tell you that it will not be the kind you’ve witnessed before. This is going to be sustained and this will yield the needed results, with your support and the support of all Ghanaians,” he said.
