Interior Minister Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has warned against use of guns at celebrations including funerals and festivals.
Hr said the use of guns at those celebrations are prohibited warning that anybody found violating it would be dealt by the law.
The Asawase Member of Parliament gave the warning at a news conference in Accra on Tuesday to sensitize the public on the Gun Amnesty Programme.
“This amnesty is a window of grace. It offers every law-abiding Ghanaian who holds an unregistered or illicit firearm the opportunity to surrender it—without fear of interrogation, arrest, or prosecution. From 1st December 2025 to 15th January 2026, any person who voluntarily hands over such weapons at designated collection points will be commended, not condemned. You will be recognized as a patriot contributing to the peace and safety of our nation.
But let me be clear: when this amnesty period ends, the law will take its full course. The Ghana Police Service and all security agencies will intensify operations to recover illicit arms. Those who refuse this generous offer will be treated as criminals, and the consequences will be firm and uncompromising”, the Interior Minister cautioned
Below is the full statement
STATEMENT BY THE HON. MINISTER FOR THE INTERIOR
ON THE DECLARATION OF A GUN AMNESTY AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE ILLICIT FIREARMS IN THE COUNTRY
The Hon. Minister for Government Communications
The Chief Director, Ministry of the Interior
The Representative of the Inspector-General of Police
The Director-General of Prisons
The Director-General of Narcotics Control Commission
Board Members of NACSA
The Executive Secretary of NACSA
Directors of MINTER
Friends from the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning,
I address you today with a deep sense of duty and urgency. Across our beloved nation, illicit firearms have infiltrated our homes, workplaces, social gatherings, and even our schools. These weapons—unregistered and unlawfully held—are fueling armed robbery, violent disputes, chieftaincy and land conflicts, and domestic violence. They turn minor disagreements into bloodshed and pit communities against each other. They rob us of fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters—lives that should be shaping the future of Ghana.
Let us not deceive ourselves. Every illicit firearm in circulation is a silent threat. It may lie hidden in a cupboard, under a bed, or buried in the bush, but at any moment, it can destroy lives and families forever. We cannot continue to bury our loved ones while the tools of violence remain unchecked.
That is why, after broad consultations with the Ghana Police Service, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, our security agencies, traditional leaders, religious organizations, and civil society, the Government has resolved to declare a Gun Amnesty—a bold and compassionate initiative to reduce illicit firearms in our country.
The Gun Amnesty Programme
This amnesty is a window of grace. It offers every law-abiding Ghanaian who holds an unregistered or illicit firearm the opportunity to surrender it—without fear of interrogation, arrest, or prosecution. From 1st December 2025 to 15th January 2026, any person who voluntarily hands over such weapons at designated collection points will be commended, not condemned. You will be recognized as a patriot contributing to the peace and safety of our nation.
But let me be clear: when this amnesty period ends, the law will take its full course. The Ghana Police Service and all security agencies will intensify operations to recover illicit arms. Those who refuse this generous offer will be treated as criminals, and the consequences will be firm and uncompromising.
Additional Measures to Strengthen Arms Control
To ensure lasting impact, the following measures will accompany the Gun Amnesty:
• A six-week amnesty window for voluntary surrender of illicit firearms
• Suspension of firearm importation, sale, and registration during the amnesty period
• Temporary ban on the use of firearms in traditional celebrations
• Ongoing dialogue with traditional authorities to regulate firearm use during festivals
• Enhanced border security to prevent arms trafficking
• Joint security operations post-amnesty to retrieve illicit weapons and prosecute offenders
• Intensified swoops and searches in crime hotspots and known criminal networks
Preparatory Steps Already Taken
We have laid the groundwork for success through:
• Technical planning meetings to coordinate the Gun Amnesty
• Consultative engagements with Regional Ministers, Chiefs, Ambassadors, Arms Dealers, and Opinion Leaders
• Public sensitization campaigns to raise awareness
• Training of Amnesty Officials to uphold professionalism and integrity
A National Call to Action
Fellow countrymen and women, this amnesty is not a showpiece. It is not a witch-hunt. It is a life-saving initiative. Every firearm surrendered is one less tool of destruction, one less weapon in the hands of criminals, and one more step toward a peaceful Ghana.
I call upon our chiefs, elders, pastors, imams, opinion leaders, community associations, and the media to amplify this message. Encourage your communities to surrender illicit firearms. Let us build a culture of dialogue, not violence—of safety, not fear.
Ghana’s destiny is too precious to be stolen by bullets. Our children deserve playgrounds, not battlegrounds. Our families deserve laughter, not funerals. And our beloved nation deserves peace, not gun violence.
Let us seize this moment of national decision. Let us disarm not only our homes, but our hearts. Let us reaffirm that Ghana is a land of peace, a beacon of stability in Africa, and a nation where every life is sacred.
Together, let us silence the guns—for our safety, for our children, and for our future.
Guns Down, Ghana Up!
Thank you and may God bless our homeland Ghana.
source:www.senaradioonline.com
