As part of intensified national efforts to safeguard peace and enhance community safety, the Small Arms and Light Weapons Amnesty Team has paid a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister and the leadership of the Asogli State, seeking stronger partnerships to curb the proliferation of illicit firearms in the region.
The visit forms part of a broader nationwide stakeholder engagement under the Small Arms Amnesty Programme, aimed at promoting the voluntary surrender of illegal and unregistered firearms while deepening public understanding of the dangers posed by small arms and light weapons to national and regional security.
Strengthening Collaboration for Safer Communities
Leading the delegation was Dr Adams Bonaa, Acting Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA).
During the engagement with the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Bonaa outlined the key objectives of the amnesty programme and the rationale behind NACSA’s visit to the region.
He explained that the amnesty initiative, which kicked off in December last year and is expected to end on January 15, offers individuals in possession of illegal, excess, or unregistered firearms the opportunity to voluntarily surrender them without fear of arrest, interrogation, or prosecution.
According to him, the process is entirely free, confidential, and devoid of intermediaries, ensuring that participants are fully protected under the law once the weapons are surrendered.
He stressed that the amnesty is not punitive in nature but rather a confidence-building measure designed to remove weapons from circulation, reduce violence, and prevent the escalation of conflicts within communities.
Volta Region Central to Nationwide Engagement s
The Acting Executive Secretary further disclosed that the Volta Region engagement forms part of NACSA’s second phase of nationwide amnesty outreach, following earlier stakeholder consultations in the Upper West Region.
The team’s itinerary includes activities in Ho—popularly referred to as the Oxygen City—before proceeding to the Oti Region.
He noted that the courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, was necessary to formally brief the President’s representative in the region and to secure the full backing of the Regional Coordinating Council and traditional authorities in ensuring the success of the Amnesty programme.
Regional Minister Commends Amnesty, Calls for Deadline Extension
Welcoming the delegation, Mr Gunu commended NACSA for adopting dialogue, education, and community engagement as the cornerstone of the Amnesty programme, describing the approach as critical to achieving lasting peace and security.
He disclosed that the Minister for the Interior has already held a series of engagements with regional ministers across the country on the amnesty and used the occasion to appeal, through the acting executive secretary, for the extension of the amnesty deadline from January 15 to the end of January.
He noted that an extension would allow more individuals to take advantage of the programme and voluntarily surrender their firearms.
Peace and Security Key to Volta’s Development Agenda
Mr Gunu urged all residents of the Volta Region and Ghanaians at large to take the amnesty education seriously, stressing that the government’s reset agenda cannot be realised in an atmosphere of insecurity.
He reiterated that the indiscriminate possession of firearms poses a significant threat to peace, stability, and social cohesion, adding that his administration will not condone actions that undermine national security.
The regional minister outlined peace, security, and stability as the three core pillars of his vision for the Volta Region, emphasising that meaningful development and investment can only thrive in a safe and secure environment.
According to him, without peace, there can be no sustainable growth, no investor confidence, and no meaningful progress.
He therefore expressed strong optimism that the Small Arms Amnesty Programme will significantly contribute to maintaining calm, preventing violence, and strengthening trust within communities across the region.
Commitment to Amnesty Success
Mr Gunu pledged the full support and commitment of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) towards ensuring that the mission and objectives of the Amnesty programme are fully realised.
He called on traditional leaders, community influencers, and the general public to actively support the initiative, describing it as a collective responsibility that requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.
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