The Amnesty Initiative has paid a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister and the leadership of the Asogli State as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration on peace, security, and community safety in the region.
The visit forms part of ongoing stakeholder engagements aimed at encouraging the voluntary surrender of illicit small arms and light weapons, while raising public awareness about the dangers posed by their proliferation.
Speaking during the meeting with the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Adams Bonaa, a security expert and Acting Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA), said the team was in the Volta Region for three main purposes: to educate residents on the Small Arms Amnesty, encourage individuals with unregistered or illegally held firearms to surrender them, and explain the benefits of the amnesty declared in December, which is set to end on January 15.
Dr. Bonaa explained that the amnesty allows individuals to hand over firearms voluntarily without fear of arrest, interrogation, or prosecution. He noted that the Volta visit is part of a nationwide “Amnesty Programme Tour,” which has already covered the Upper West Region and will continue to Ho before proceeding to the Oti Region.
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, welcomed the delegation and commended the initiative for prioritising dialogue and community engagement in addressing security challenges.
He disclosed that the Minister for the Interior has been consulting Regional Ministers on the amnesty and appealed, through NACSA, for an extension of the deadline to the end of January instead of January 15.
Mr. Gunu urged the public to take advantage of the amnesty, stressing that the government’s reset agenda cannot tolerate the indiscriminate possession of firearms, which poses a threat to national and regional security. He emphasised that ensuring peace and security remains his top priority as Regional Minister, noting that sustainable development and investment can only thrive in a peaceful environment.
He further pledged the commitment of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) to support the objectives of the Small Guns Amnesty Initiative and ensure the success of its mission in the region.
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