Minister of the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed that more than 4,000 firearms have been voluntarily surrendered by civilians under the government’s gun amnesty initiative.

Speaking on Hot Issues on TV3 Ghana on Sunday, March 15, 2026, and monitored by GhanaWeb, he noted that security agencies had already retrieved about 11,000 firearms from civilians even before the amnesty period was introduced.

He said the launch of the programme has encouraged additional individuals to hand over weapons without facing legal consequences.

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

“It’s true that we’ve been able to retrieve over 4,000 guns in the hands of civilians. And before even then, we had about 11,000 that we had already retrieved. Now we are marking them and preparing to destroy them,” he said.

According to the minister, the recovered weapons are currently being catalogued and marked by security agencies as part of preparations for their eventual destruction.

He added that the government is also reviewing the process for acquiring gun licences to tighten regulations and curb the misuse of firearms.

“We are trying to review the process of acquiring gun licences to make sure we strengthen the regime and prevent the rampant usage of it,” he explained.

The minister also indicated that the government is working with traditional authorities to support enforcement of restrictions on the public use of firearms, particularly at social gatherings such as funerals.

“During the amnesty, we categorically said that people should stop using them at funeral grounds and outdoor activities. Enforcement is a big challenge, so we are engaging the regional houses of chiefs to ensure they are fully on board,” he stated.

Gun amnesty extended to January 30

The gun amnesty programme forms part of the government’s broader strategy to tackle the spread of illegal firearms and strengthen public safety across the country.

The interior minister earlier announced an extension of the amnesty period from January 15 to January 30, 2026, to allow more individuals to voluntarily surrender illegal or unregistered firearms.

The initiative was first declared on November 18, 2025, and officially took effect on December 1, 2025, as part of efforts to reduce the proliferation of illicit arms and enhance national security.

Under the programme, individuals surrendered firearms and ammunition without fear of arrest or prosecution.

JKB/VPO

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