The Minister for the Interior has announced a nationwide Gun Amnesty Programme as part of a broader government strategy to curb the rising circulation of illicit firearms across the country.
Addressing journalists at the Information Services Department in Accra, the Minister described the proliferation of illegal weapons as “a silent threat that has infiltrated homes, workplaces, social gatherings, and even schools.”
He noted that unregistered firearms continue to fuel armed robbery, land and chieftaincy disputes, domestic violence, and deadly community conflicts, often turning minor disagreements into tragedies.
The Gun Amnesty will run from 1st December 2025 to 15th January 2026. During this period, any individual in possession of an illicit or unregistered firearm may voluntarily surrender the weapon at designated collection points without fear of arrest, interrogation, or prosecution.
“This is a window of grace,” the Minister said. “Anyone who hands in a weapon will be commended, not condemned, as a patriot contributing to national safety.”
He cautioned that once the amnesty ends, security agencies will intensify operations to retrieve illicit weapons, and offenders will face the full rigour of the law.
Government has introduced several additional measures to ensure the programme’s effectiveness, including; suspension of firearm importation, sale, and registration during the amnesty period, a temporary ban on the use of firearms in traditional celebrations, ongoing dialogue with traditional authorities to regulate gun usage during festivals, enhanced border security to prevent trafficked arms from entering the country, joint security operations after the amnesty to retrieve illegal weapons and prosecute offenders and targeted swoops and searches in crime hotspots and criminal enclaves.
The Minister said extensive groundwork has been completed ahead of the rollout, this includes, technical planning with the Ghana Police Service, NACSA, and other security agencies, consultations with Regional Ministers, chiefs, diplomats, arms dealers, and community leaders, public sensitisation campaigns and specialised training for officials who will manage the amnesty process.
The Minister appealed to traditional leaders, religious bodies, opinion leaders, community groups, and the media to support the campaign by encouraging citizens to surrender unregistered weapons.
“This is not a witch-hunt; it is a life-saving initiative,” he emphasised. “Every gun handed over is one less tool of destruction and one more step toward a peaceful Ghana.”
He added that the country must “choose dialogue over violence and safety over fear,” warning that gun-related deaths must not undermine the nation’s future.
“Our children deserve playgrounds, not battlegrounds. Our families deserve laughter, not funerals,” he said.
He concluded with a national appeal:
“Guns Down, Ghana Up.”
Source: Myxyzonline.com
