The Ministry of the Interior has commenced a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme to prepare for the implementation of a nationwide gun amnesty initiative.
The training, organised in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA), targets selected officers who will subsequently train others at regional and district levels to ensure smooth execution of the programme.
The nationwide gun amnesty, expected to be officially launched soon, forms part of the government’s strategy to curb the proliferation of illicit firearms, promote peace, and enhance public safety.
Speaking at the opening session in Accra, Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, Deputy Minister for the Interior, said the training marked a critical step in Ghana’s efforts to reduce the misuse and circulation of small arms, which had contributed to rising gun-related violence.
He noted that recent years had witnessed an increase in firearm incidents during festivals, chieftaincy and land disputes, armed robberies, and other violent crimes, often linked to illicit weapons.
“It is for this reason that government, through the Ministry, has decided to initiate a nationwide gun amnesty programme to offer Ghanaians the opportunity to voluntarily surrender their unregistered or illicit firearms without fear of interrogation, arrest, or prosecution,” he said.
Mr. Terlabi explained that the programme aimed to remove illicit arms from circulation, enhance public safety, and reinforce Ghana’s reputation as a peaceful and secure country in the sub-region.
He said the training would equip participants with the technical knowledge and operational procedures required to implement the amnesty effectively, adding that the initiative’s success would depend on the professionalism of the trainees.
“Ghanaians must see you not as enforcers coming to punish, but as partners helping them make the right choice for their safety and that of their communities,” he told participants.
The deputy minister reassured the public that the exercise was not intended to identify or arrest individuals who surrendered firearms.
“The government’s intention is purely to give every citizen with no criminal intent the opportunity to do the right thing and hand over unregistered firearms voluntarily, with no questions asked, no arrests, and no prosecutions,” he stressed.
Mr. Terlabi also disclosed that the proposed National Arms Bill was in its final stages and would soon be submitted to the Attorney-General to strengthen arms control.
Dr Adam Bonaa, Executive Director of NACSA, said the ToT programme was designed to build the capacity of selected officers to replicate the training nationwide.
He described the forthcoming amnesty as “the most elaborate programme” of its kind in Ghana’s history, noting that while previous amnesties had been declared, this was the first time officers were being systematically trained to manage the process.
Dr Bonaa appealed to the media to support the initiative through accurate and responsible reporting to educate the public on the importance of surrendering illicit firearms.
“Most crimes committed in our country today involve firearms, and many of these weapons are illicit. This is why your role is crucial, to collect these weapons safely, educate the public, and ensure that this initiative becomes a national success,” he said.
Commisioner of Police Frederick Kofi Blagodzi, Director-General, Human Resource Development, Ghana Police Service, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to the initiative, stressing its importance in preventing the spread of armed violence within and beyond Ghana’s borders.
He urged participants to uphold integrity, diligence, and discipline throughout the exercise.
“You have been carefully selected because of the trust and confidence we have in you. Please do not compromise your position in any way. The success of this initiative depends on your professionalism,” he said.
Source: GNA
The post Interior Ministry begins training ahead of nationwide gun amnesty rollout appeared first on Ghana Business News.
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