The Ministry of the Interior has announced a final extension of the Gun Amnesty Programme as part of efforts to reduce the circulation of illicit and unregistered firearms across the country.
In a statement, the Ministry said the amnesty, which was originally scheduled to run for six weeks from December 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026, has now been extended to January 30, 2026. The extension takes effect from January 16 and provides an additional two weeks for compliance.
According to the Ministry, the decision was informed by significant public interest and cooperation recorded since the programme began. The Ministry said engagements with traditional authorities, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and members of the public revealed strong support for the initiative, alongside requests for more time to enable wider participation.
The Interior Ministry said the extension is expected to benefit individuals in hard-to-reach communities and those who may still be hesitant to come forward. It explained that the additional period will allow more people to voluntarily surrender unregistered firearms or regularise their weapons without fear of interrogation, arrest, or prosecution.
The Ministry also clarified that individuals who declared their intention to register their firearms within the initial amnesty period but were unable to complete the process will be allowed to do so during the extended window.
Officials stressed that the extension represents a final opportunity for voluntary compliance. After January 30, 2026, law enforcement agencies, including the Ghana Police Service, are expected to intensify intelligence-led operations, targeted searches, and enforcement actions nationwide to retrieve illicit firearms.
The Ministry warned that any individual found in possession of an unregistered or illegal firearm after the expiration of the amnesty period will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Reiterating the purpose of the programme, the Interior Ministry said the Gun Amnesty Programme is not intended as a witch-hunt but as a preventive measure to save lives and enhance public safety. It described the initiative as critical to maintaining Ghana’s reputation as a peaceful and stable country.
The Ministry appealed to chiefs, elders, religious leaders, opinion leaders, youth groups, community associations, and the media to continue supporting the programme by encouraging compliance within their communities.
The statement emphasised that every firearm voluntarily surrendered reduces the risk of violence and insecurity, and called on the public to take advantage of the remaining days of the amnesty period.