The National Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission in the Northern Region is calling on residents in possession of illicit guns to voluntarily surrender them before law enforcement agencies take action.
Failure to comply may result in severe consequences, including a prison term of not less than 10 years, as stipulated in the Criminal Act 1960.
The commission has expressed concern over the increasing possession of guns, including AK-47s, G3s, submachine guns, and M16s, among civilians in the region.
These guns pose a danger not only to the handlers but also to innocent people. The display of firearms at funerals, birthday parties, and cultural festivals has also created fears and panic among citizens, the commission noted.
According to Ghana’s gun policy, anyone seeking to possess firearms must register it in person at a firearm licensing office at a police station. Applicants must be 18 years or older and free from any medical disorder.
However, the commission notes that most guns in the region are likely unregistered and handled by untrained individuals.
The commission said it is involved in periodic arms collection and destruction, where seized weapons are assembled and burnt. The last destruction exercise was carried out in 2022, where over 1,500 weapons were destroyed.
The Head of the Northern Region Small Arms Commission, Mr. Douglas Koku-Annu, has warned that until sophisticated guns are retrieved from civilians, it will be challenging to solve conflicts in the region.
He commended the King of Dagbang, Ndan Ya Naa, for his efforts in discouraging the use of illicit weapons and display of same at cultural festivals.
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.
