The Minister of Interior has appealed to Chiefs and traditional leaders to work jointly with government in reducing the use of illegal firearms in Ghana
He made this appeal at a press conference on Tuesday, in Accra, on the theme “Declaration of Gun Amnesty and other measures to reduce illicit arms in the country.”
He said there will be a temporary ban on the use of firearms in traditional celebrations, hence the call on Chiefs across the nation to halt the use of firing guns during festivals and funerals until the gun amnesty program comes to a successful end.
The minister urged Traditional leaders to ensure that the people who are in charge of firing guns during festivals and funerals are well trained in firing arms and are using the accredited and licensed materials to perform such duties.
The minister expatiated that “The gun amnesty program”, is a window of grace that will offer every law abiding Ghanaian who holds an unregistered or illicit firearm the opportunity to surrender it without fear of interrogation, arrest, or prosecution. This event will commence from 1st December to 15th January 2026.
He called on the Chiefs to encourage members of their communities to surrender illicit firearms in their possession as a sign of a collective decision to support the initiative.
He stated that after a broad consultation with the Ghana Police Service, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Security Agencies, Traditional Leaders, Religious Organizations, and Civil Society, the Government has decided to declare a Gun Amnesty, which is a compassionate initiative to reduce illicit firearms in our country.
Deborah Narkie Nartey, ISD
