N/R; Surrounded your gun voluntarily before the law enforcement agencies-Small Arms Commission to residents
The National Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission in the northern region is urging residents in possession of illicit guns to surround them voluntarily before the law enforcement agencies. Failure to do so the commission warns will lead to severe consequences including a prison term not less than 10 years as enshrined in the criminal act 1960.
According to the commission, there is increasing possession of guns including AK 47, G3, submachine guns, M16 among others by civilians in the north.
These guns, the commission noted, are dangerous not only to handlers but innocent people. The commission further expressed concern about the display of firearms at funerals, birthday parties as firecrackers and cultural festivals, adding it created fears and panic among innocent citizens.
These guns, the commission observed, are likely not to be registered and not also handled by trained and people licensed to handle gun.
Ghana’s gun policy says anyone who wants to possess firearms must register it in person at any firearm licensing office at the police station. Any applicant must be eighteen years and above and must be free from any medical disorder.
In 2002, a banned-on gun registration was imposed in the northern region after the unfortunate incident. The ban which is 23 years now is still enforced but possession of guns in the region continues to increase.
Speaking to Zaa News on growing concerns about guns in civilians’ hands, Head of Northern Region Small Arms Commission, Mr Douglas Koku-Annu described the situation as worrisome
Arms collection and distraction
Commenting on periodic arms and distraction, Mr Douglas explained that the periodic arms collection and distraction where a number of illicit or seized weapons at each police station assembled at a point and burnt.
The commission he added, is deeply involved in Arms distractions and stockpile management in Ghana and monitors weapons that are being gathered at police stations across the country and supervised burning at a point in the presence of all stakeholders.
The last time Ghana carried out illicit arms distractions was in 2022 where over 1,500 weapons were burnt and metals melted and tested by a smiling company, Mr Douglas added. He revealed that the issue is not just about proliferation of small arms but the type of weapons in the hands of civilians and are being used in the northern region.
He warned that, until sophisticated guns are retrieved from civilians, it will be extremely difficult to solve conflicts in the northern region. ’’AK47, M16, G3 and the like are weapons that should never at any point in time be found with any civilians but when you come to our terrain in the northern region here’, that’s what most of the people are handling’’, Mr Douglas Annu-Koku stated.
He revealed further that five motor bike riders you stop in the region, three are likely to be in possession of these guns. He expressed the commission’s gratitude to the king of Dagbang, Ndan Ya Naa for his incessant call on the people to stop using illicit weapons and display of same at cultural festivals, assuring that the commission will continue to liaise with the Gbewaa palace.
