Thousands of illegal firearms and ammunition have been surrendered to authorities nationwide as Ghana’s ongoing gun amnesty moves into its final 15 days, according to the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons. The disclosure was made by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Adam Bonaa, during an interview on Joy News on Monday, December 29, 2025.
Dr Bonaa said the amnesty has produced significant results so far, with recoveries recorded across all 16 administrative regions and all 25 police regions in the country. He stated that the level of nationwide participation indicates broad public engagement with the exercise and added that more weapons are expected to be surrendered before the deadline.
He explained that the firearms recovered include a wide range of weapons, from sidearms and pump action shotguns to single and double barrel guns, as well as military style rifles such as AK 47s, M16s and G series weapons. Quantities of ammunition have also been handed over during the period.
Dr Bonaa further noted that the amnesty declaration came with temporary but strict restrictions on the arms trade to support the exercise. He said the importation of firearms and ammunition has been suspended, the sale of guns and ammunition has been halted, and the firing of weapons has been prohibited throughout the amnesty window. According to him, these measures were put in place to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the process.
The nationwide gun amnesty was declared by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, who announced December 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026 as a grace period for individuals in possession of illegal firearms to surrender or register them without facing prosecution. The initiative forms part of broader government efforts to improve public safety and curb the misuse of small arms and light weapons.
Dr Bonaa urged individuals who still possess illegal firearms to use the remaining days of the amnesty to comply with the law. He warned that after January 15, 2026, security agencies will intensify enforcement operations and persons found in possession of illegal weapons will face the full application of the law. Authorities say the aim is to sustain the gains made during the amnesty and reduce gun related crime across the country.