Government suspends importation of arms

The Importation of small arms and ammunition including shotguns and cartridges by licensed arms dealers in Ghana has been suspended with immediate effect. There is also to be an immediate freeze on sales of existing stocks pending an inventory of all stocks held by private arms dealers and a review of procedures for their acquisition and registration.

Mr. Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister of National Security, who disclosed this, said further measures to control the possession and use of various types of arms would be announced later. He expressed grave concern over the recently alleged gun running involving some Ghanaians in Nigeria.

Mr. Totobi Quakyi said that the Office of the National Security Council has taken a very serious view of the reported arrest of six Ghanaians for allegedly attempting to smuggle a quantity of arms and ammunition, suspected to be shotguns and cartridges into Nigeria. The minister revealed that a team made up of representatives from the security agencies led by Ghana's High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. J. Y. A. Kwoffie is to collect first hand information from the Nigerian authorities on the circumstances surrounding the alleged importation to help with investigations in Ghana.

Mr. Totobi Quakyi further explain that the Nigerian investigation is being done within the framework of existing agreements on co-operation aimed at curbing the proliferation of small arms in the sub-region.