Ghanaians arrested with arms in Nigeria

Accra, 1st August 1999 - The office of the National Security Council says it takes a serious view of the reported arrest of six Ghanaians in Nigeria for allegedly attempting to smuggle arms and ammunition, suspected to be shotguns and cartridges, into the country.

Ghana has therefore dispatched a team headed by Ghana's High Commissioner to Nigeria, J Y A Kwoffie, to assist the Nigerian authorities with their investigations.

Meanwhile, Ghana's Minister for National Security, Totobi Quakyi, has suspended, with immediate effect, the importation of all small arms and ammunition, including shotguns and cartridges by licensed arms dealers. In addition, there is to be an immediate freeze on sales of existing stocks, pending stock taking of all arms held by private dealers and a review of procedures for their acquisition and registration.

Further measures to control the possession and use of various types of arms will be announced in due course, says the Minister for National Security.

In another press release signed by Nii Okaija Adamafio, Minister for the Interior, G S Agor, Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has been directed to proceed on leave W. K. Aboah, Deputy Commissioner of Police with responsibility for Immigration, has been assigned temporary responsibility for the Police CID.