The Ministry of Interior has declared a month long limited weapons amnesty exercise in Ghana.
This forms part of measures by government to check the proliferation of illicit arms in the country ahead of the December general elections.
The exercise which will run from the 22nd of August to the 23rd of September will offer individuals the opportunity to surrender all unlicensed or illegal weapons to the police or the National Commission on Small Arms.
It is believed that over one million unlicensed weapons are in the possession of civilians in the country.
Speaking to the media, the Minister of Interior, Prosper Bani said government will clamp down on all persons who have illegal arms in their possession after the Amnesty period expires.
“For several years, the Ghana Police have been authorized by law to register weapons that are legally possessed by our citizens. Following an assessment of the situation and based on the advice from the security agencies, the President has directed the Ministry of the Interior, the Ghana Police service and the Ghana Small arms commission to take steps to enhance the management and control of the proliferation of weapons by instituting a limited weapons amnesty exercise,” he added.
Gov’t destroys confiscated illegal arms
The Interior Ministry following assurances to ensure safety of Ghanaians ahead of the polls destroyed thousands of confiscated small arms and light weapons in Accra in July.
“Today many Ghanaians will be safer, many businesses and homes in Ghana will be spared from potential armed robberies and violence by the use of weapons. Many homes will be spared from potential break-ins. All these are the result of the removal from our society and the destruction of thousands of illegal small arms which marks the United Nations weapons destruction day,” Prosper Bani added.
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