The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak Mohamed has officially declared a six-week national Gun Amnesty in a determined effort to reduce the proliferation of illegal firearms and stem the rising tide of gun violence across the country.
This was made known at a high-level meeting between the Minister of the Interior and General Managers and Senior Editors of major media houses in Accra, where the Ministry sought the support of the media in sensitising the public about the initiative.
Speaking during the meeting, the Minister emphasised the urgent need to remove illicit weapons from homes, communities and streets, describing every unregistered gun as a silent threat waiting to destroy lives.
Under the amnesty programme, Ghanaians in possession of unregistered or illicit firearms are encouraged to voluntarily surrender them at designated collection points in all District Assemblies nationwide without fear of arrest or prosecution during the six-week window.
Citizens also have the option to legitimately register previously unlicensed firearms within the same period.
The initiative is being rolled out alongside a temporary ban on the importation, sale and public display of firearms, as well as restrictions on the use of weapons during traditional festivities.
Statistics presented by the Ministry painted a grim picture of gun violence in 2025. Between January and September this year, the Ghana Police Service and the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons recorded 322 armed robberies, 342 murders involving firearms, 166 deaths and 93 injuries from gun-related incidents.
One hundred and thirty (130) firearms were retrieved with 70 arrests made for unlawful possession.
A joint security operation will commence immediately after the amnesty expires to retrieve remaining illegal weapons, with offenders facing full prosecution under the law.
The national campaign will run under the theme: “Silencing the Guns to Save Our Lives”, with the key slogans “Let’s silence the guns for our own safety!” and “Guns Down, Ghana Up!”
To ensure success, the Ministry has established secure surrender points at District Assemblies, where plain-clothed police officers will receive and document firearms. Traditional leaders, religious organisations, youth groups and civil society are being mobilised for grassroots sensitisation.
Media owners and editors present at the meeting were charged to give the campaign massive and sustained coverage, stressing that public awareness and trust are critical to encouraging voluntary compliance.
The Gun Amnesty, which started on 18th November, ends on 30th December 2025. The Ministry of the Interior has urged all Ghanaians to support the initiative and take advantage of this one-time window to rid the country of illegal firearms and build a safer, more peaceful Ghana.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
