Gun Amnesty records positive response; government considers extension – Deputy Interior Minister

The Deputy Minister of Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has stated that the government of Ghana is considering extending the ongoing Gun Amnesty Programme following appeals from stakeholders and a positive public response.

Speaking during a Gun Amnesty stakeholder engagement with Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Ghana Airports security agencies on January 12, 2026, he noted that the Ministry was evaluating the possibility of granting more time to allow individuals in possession of unregistered or illicit firearms to surrender them voluntarily without fear of arrest or prosecution.

“While the programme has received encouraging response so far, the government remains focused on ensuring that as many illicit weapons as possible are removed from circulation in the interest of national security and public safety,” he said.

Terlabi emphasised that the amnesty is preventive rather than punitive, adding that public cooperation is critical to the success of the initiative.

The Gun Amnesty Programme runs from December 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026, under the theme “Silencing the Guns to Save Our Lives.”

It allows individuals to surrender unregistered or illicit firearms and ammunition without facing prosecution.

The Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Dr Adam Bonaa, said extending the amnesty period would allow for broader public sensitisation and encourage more people to participate.

Ghana launches six-week national gun amnesty to curb illicit firearms

He noted that sustained collaboration between the state and the public is essential to reducing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country and the sub-region.

The engagement featured presentations on the implementation of the amnesty and an open forum on the roles of stakeholders in promoting a gun-free society.

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Meanwhile, watch as NDC MPs and party leadership pay tribute to late Naser Toure Mahama