Rise of unregistered firearms alarming – Muntaka

The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, is worried over the increasing number of unregistered and untraceable firearms across Ghana.

The Interior Minister warned that the situation poses a serious threat to national security.

During a working visit to the Northern Region on Wednesday, May 21, Mr. Muntaka highlighted surge of illegal weapons in civilian hands, attributing it to a rise in indiscriminate gun violence often triggered by minor disputes.

“The number of arms in the hands of our citizens is getting to an alarming level. It’s giving the Peace Council, police, and other security agencies a lot of headaches. At the least provocation, you hear a gunshot. How did the people get the guns?” he asked.

He stressed the urgent need for a coordinated national effort to ensure that all firearms in circulation are properly registered and traceable.

According to him, this would significantly enhance the ability of security agencies to identify and eliminate illegal arms.

He said, “We have to get private people to partner with the government. The government alone cannot do it. Now technology is so easy that we should be able to use technology to detect who imports and sells the guns.”