Government will destroy more than 2,000 firearms on July 9 as part of a major national security operation aimed at reducing the circulation of illegal weapons and improving public safety across the country.
The destruction exercise will take place at the Police Depot in Tesano, Accra, and will involve firearms seized during security operations as well as weapons voluntarily surrendered under the National Gun Amnesty Programme.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to combat illicit firearms possession and prevent gun-related violence.
Thousands of Weapons Targeted
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak said the exercise is being undertaken in collaboration with the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Security Council Secretariat and other stakeholders.
According to him, the destruction programme represents a significant step in efforts to remove illegal weapons from circulation and strengthen national security.
Over 4,000 Firearms Recovered
The Minister disclosed that 4,038 unregistered firearms were submitted to the police during the National Gun Amnesty Programme, which ran between December 1, 2025 and January 30, 2026.
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However, he clarified that not all surrendered weapons would be destroyed immediately.
Some firearm owners voluntarily submitted their weapons as part of efforts to regularise their possession through the legal registration process.
Registration Assessments Ongoing
Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak explained that firearms presented for regularisation would first undergo assessment to determine whether owners meet the legal requirements to possess them.
According to him, pump-action guns and locally manufactured firearms made up a significant proportion of the weapons recovered during the amnesty period.
Authorities are also assigning unique identification numbers to locally manufactured firearms to improve monitoring and traceability.
Strengthening Public Safety
The Interior Minister described the Gun Amnesty Programme as a major milestone in government’s efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal firearms and reduce the risk of gun-related crimes.
He appealed to the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing information on the illegal possession, movement and trafficking of weapons.
Next Phase of Gun Control Efforts
The National Gun Amnesty Programme was launched under the theme “Silencing the Guns to Save Our Lives” and allowed individuals to voluntarily surrender or regularise unlicensed firearms without facing prosecution.
Authorities say the destruction of more than 2,000 weapons marks the next phase of efforts to remove illicit firearms from circulation and improve security nationwide.
Government believes the exercise will contribute significantly to public safety while reinforcing ongoing efforts to strengthen control over firearms ownership and use in Ghana.
