Dr. Adams Bonaa, Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA), has assured stakeholders in the Volta Region of renewed efforts to retrieve all illicit firearms in circulation, as part of a broader strategy to enhance public safety and reduce gun-related violence.
Speaking at a Gun Amnesty training and stakeholders’ engagement in Ho, Dr. Bonaa told Adom News that the operation would be intelligence-led and community-driven.
“We will retrieve the last illicit firearm in this country,” he said, calling on residents to support the initiative by providing credible information. He further pledged a reward for informants who offer useful intelligence on individuals hiding illegal weapons.
The engagement, held under the theme “Silence the Gun to Save Our Lives,” brought together Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), security officials, traditional leaders, and civil society actors. The programme focused on building trust between communities and security agencies, and promoting the Gun Amnesty initiative as a non-punitive avenue for voluntarily surrendering illegal firearms.
On behalf of the MMDCEs, the Dean, Mr. Jerry Ameko, pledged full support from local government authorities. “We are committed to working closely with security agencies and community leaders to sensitize our people and encourage them to support the amnesty process,” he said. “Peace and safety in the Volta Region remain our top priority.”
Other participants echoed similar sentiments, stressing the need for sustained public education, collaboration, and trust-building to rid communities of illicit weapons.
The Gun Amnesty initiative is part of ongoing national efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which authorities say pose a serious threat to peace, security, and development.
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