Security analyst and Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Dr. Adam Bonaa, has revealed that the Ministry for the Interior is preparing to announce a nationwide gun amnesty in the coming days.
The initiative, which has been in planning for some time, is aimed at reducing the spread of small arms among civilians and addressing the surge in gun-related violence across Ghana.
In the coming days, perhaps within a week or so, there’s going to be a declaration that has been well thought out and well planned by the Government of Ghana, he stated. It’s going to be an elaborate amnesty, the type we have not really seen in this country. The declaration will be made by the Honorable Minister for the Interior, and all the necessary processes are being finalized to ensure every box is checked.
This revelation follows a recent deadly incident in Garu, in the Upper East Region, where gunmen attacked the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) office, killing at least four people and injuring several others. Dr. Bonaa expressed deep concern over the growing frequency of such violent attacks, noting that both the Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission and national security agencies have recorded a troubling increase in firearm-related incidents.
A lot is being done to curb these incidents and ensure that we nip them in the bud, to reduce and, if possible, eradicate them, he assured.
He added that recent police operations have highlighted the urgency of dealing with the menace. You’ve seen the police swooping in to arrest bandits and criminals who specialize in robbing rural banks. Some armed robbers who have been terrorizing communities using firearms have also been neutralized, Dr. Bonaa explained.
The upcoming nationwide gun amnesty in Ghana is expected to encourage civilians to surrender illegal weapons voluntarily without facing prosecution, marking a major step toward restoring peace and public safety.
