CID boss reveals 66 of 80 firearm traces in Ghana tied to US investigations

The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, has disclosed that Ghana recorded 80 firearm tracing hits through searches conducted on INTERPOL systems.

According to her, between 2024 and the first quarter of 2026, Ghana carried out 5,251 firearm tracing searches, resulting in 80 positive matches.

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Out of these positive matches, 66 were linked to the United States and tied to active investigations.

COP Donkor made this known in a statement shared on X on April 13, 2026, following her presentation at the 21st INTERPOL Heads of National Central Bureaus Conference held in Lyon, France.

“Between 2024 and the first quarter of 2026, Ghana conducted 5,251 searches, resulting in 80 hits, with 66 linked to the United States and tied to active investigations,” she stated.

She explained that the figures demonstrate how effective firearm tracing can generate actionable intelligence beyond national borders, helping to uncover criminal networks and support ongoing investigations.

“A single recovered firearm can expose an entire criminal network,” she said.

COP Donkor noted that Ghana presented its experience in using INTERPOL’s iARMS database to combat firearm-related crimes in West Africa.

“At the 21st INTERPOL Heads of National Central Bureaus Conference in Lyon, France, I highlighted ‘The use of INTERPOL’s iARMS database against firearm crimes in West Africa: the case of Ghana," she added.

She emphasised that firearm-related crimes are often linked to broader criminal activities, including trafficking and organised cross-border networks.

“Firearm crime is not isolated. It is linked to organised crime, trafficking networks, and cross-border threats,” she noted.

According to her, Ghana’s use of the iARMS database goes beyond record-keeping and serves as a vital operational tool for real-time investigations and intelligence gathering.

“Ghana’s approach shows that iARMS is not just a database; it is an operational tool that supports tracing, intelligence development, and international cooperation,” she said.

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She added that the data highlights the importance of international collaboration in combating crime and tracking illegal firearms across borders.

A single recovered firearm can expose an entire criminal network.

At the 21st INTERPOL Heads of National Central Bureaus Conference in Lyon, France, I highlighted on “The use of INTERPOL’s iARMS database against firearm crimes in West Africa: the case of Ghana.” Firearm crime is… pic.twitter.com/qXJPK9ZMCb

— Lydia Yaako Donkor (@lydiadonkor13) April 13, 2026