Security actors in the Upper West Region are heightening public awareness efforts ahead of Ghana’s upcoming national “Gun Amnesty” programme, as Regional Minister Mr. Charles Lwanga Puozuing calls on the media to take a frontline role in reducing the circulation of illicit firearms.
Speaking at a media engagement in Wa, Mr. Puozuing warned that the growing spread of illegal small arms and increasing gun-related violence pose a serious threat to Ghana’s internal security architecture, stability, and development.
The nationwide amnesty initiative—set to be launched on November 11, 2025, by the Minister for the Interior—will run for six weeks. It provides an opportunity for people in possession of unregistered or illegal firearms to voluntarily register or surrender them without facing immediate prosecution.
“This is not an act of leniency; it is a proactive national security operation designed to disarm communities, curb violent crime, and protect public safety,” Mr. Puozuing stressed, urging strong media involvement to educate citizens and prevent panic or misinformation.
Security intelligence data from the Ghana Police Service and the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons shows that within the first three quarters of 2025, the country recorded 322 armed robbery incidents, 342 murders, 70 illegal firearm possession cases, 130 weapon seizures, 166 deaths and 93 injuries — figures authorities describe as alarming and evidence of illegal weapon proliferation.
Mr. Puozuing cautioned that individuals who refuse to comply and are later found with illegal weapons will face the full force of the law, emphasizing that the amnesty window must be used wisely.
Media representatives at the event pledged support, with the Upper West Regional Treasurer of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Ivan Awudu Domassah, noting that accurate public sensitisation will be key to building trust in the exercise and encouraging nationwide participation.
Former GJA regional chairman, Mr. Suala Abdul-Wahab, also advised media houses to avoid politicising the programme, warning that doing so could undermine national security efforts.
Authorities expect the initiative to significantly reduce hidden weapons, disrupt illicit arms trafficking, and strengthen community safety nationwide.
