With this year’s Fire Festival (Bugum Chugu) fast approaching, the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has issued a strong appeal to celebrants to prioritise safety and legality over reckless traditions involving firearms.
In a statement signed by Acting Executive Secretary Dr. Adam Bonaa, the Commission warned that the widespread misuse and public display of firearms—often witnessed during the celebration—pose a direct threat to public safety and violate Ghana’s laws on gun possession and usage.
“Let us not turn a celebration of heritage into a scene of tragedy,” Dr. Bonaa stated. “We want to preserve the cultural significance of the Fire Festival while ensuring that it does not become a platform for lawlessness and violence.”
The Commission’s call comes amid increasing alarm over the trend of celebrants, particularly in the Northern, North East, Savannah, and Upper East Regions, discharging guns—including AK-47s and homemade weapons—during the festival’s torch processions and communal gatherings. Such actions have, in the past, led to accidental injuries and fatalities, casting a shadow over an event meant to foster unity and joy.
While acknowledging the deep cultural roots of the Fire Festival in Dagbon history, the Commission stressed that firearms are not traditional symbols of celebration and should not be part of the festivities.
“Displaying or firing weapons during public gatherings is not only dangerous but also illegal. Such behaviour attracts criminal prosecution,” the Commission stated.
Authorities are also encouraging traditional leaders, youth groups, and community organisers to take proactive roles in educating festival-goers on the risks of firearm misuse and to support law enforcement in ensuring compliance with regulations.
As part of a broader national initiative to reduce gun-related violence, the Commission is urging citizens to report suspicious weapon-related activities ahead of and during the festival.
“Peaceful celebration is the highest honour we can give to our traditions,” Dr. Bonaa added. “Let us commit to a Fire Festival that strengthens our communities—not endangers them.”
The advisory underscores ongoing efforts by security agencies and civil society groups to address the proliferation of small arms in areas historically plagued by chieftaincy disputes and communal conflict.
As preparations for the Bugum Chugu intensify, the message from the Commission is clear: culture must never come at the cost of human life.
