By: Iddrissu A. Jara

As part of measures to cub menace of gun violence in communities, the government has declared temporary ban of firearms used by traditional authorities in their celebrations.

According to the Minister, this is to help solve Ghana’s urgent and growing threat from unregistered and unlawfully held weapons, which continue to fuel violent crimes and conflicts across the country.

The Minister for the Interior, Honourable Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak made the declaration and announced a nationwide gun amnesty from December 1 to January 15,,2026, as part of a broader government strategy to reduce the circulation of illicit firearms in the country.

In an address on November 18, the Minister warned that illicit firearms present dangers not only in public spaces but also within homes and communities, where they continue to escalate tensions and cause avoidable deaths.

“These weapons—unregistered and unlawfully held—are fueling armed robbery, violent disputes, chieftaincy and land conflicts, and domestic violence. They turn minor disagreements into bloodshed and pit communities against each other. They rob us of fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters—lives that should be shaping the future of Ghana.”

“In 2024 there were 1219 reported robbery cases and 552 murder cases. As of July this year the there were 628 and 340 robbery and murder cases respectively,” the minister revealed

He explained that after broad consultations with the Ghana Police Service, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA), and other stakeholders, the government has decided to implement the nationwide amnesty.

“That is why, after broad consultations with the Ghana Police Service, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, our security agencies, traditional leaders, religious organizations, and civil society, the Government has resolved to declare a Gun Amnesty.”

He described the initiative as a compassionate but urgent national intervention.

“This amnesty is a window of grace. It offers every law-abiding Ghanaian who holds an unregistered or illicit firearm the opportunity to surrender it—without fear of interrogation, arrest, or prosecution. From 1st December 2025 to 15th January 2026, any person who voluntarily hands over such weapons at designated collection points will be commended, not condemned.”

However, he cautioned that anyone who refuses to take advantage in the programme will face the full rigour of the law afterwards.

“But let me be clear: when this amnesty period ends, the law will take its full course. The Ghana Police Service and all security agencies will intensify operations to recover illicit arms. Those who refuse this generous offer will be treated as criminals, and the consequences will be firm and uncompromising.”

The Minister also outlined several additional arms-control measures that will accompany the amnesty, including the suspension of new firearm import and sales permits, a temporary ban on the use of firearms in traditional celebrations, continued engagement with traditional leaders to regulate gun use during festivals, enhanced border security to curb trafficking, post-amnesty joint security operations to retrieve illegal weapons, and intensified swoops in crime-prone areas.

He indicated that a series of preparatory steps had already been taken, such as technical planning meetings, consultations with Regional Ministers, Chiefs, Ambassadors, arms dealers and opinion leaders, public sensitisation campaigns, and the training of officials who will supervise the amnesty process.

The Interior Minister then called for national cooperation and urged leaders, and the media to help spread the message and encourage voluntary surrender of illicit firearms.

“I call upon our chiefs, elders, pastors, imams, opinion leaders, community associations, and the media to amplify this message. Encourage your communities to surrender illicit firearms.”