- "It is one of the issues that we need to address and address urgently, the biggest is that our gun control legislation even though are not harmonized, we have series of them dotted around that makes even the implementation very difficult."
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is advocating for government to tighten existing legislation on the importation, acquisition and use of small arms in the country.
The Asantehene’s call comes in the wake of growing concerns over the proliferation of small arms in the country, which many have blamed for the increasing spate of violent crimes in the country.
Citing several incidences of gun crimes in Ghana, the Asantehene observed that enough has not been done to curb the trend.
He made these remarks when a delegation from the Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
Meanwhile, Johnson Asante Twum, Deputy Director and Head of Programmes at the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, is advocating for the harmonization of legislation on arms to facilitate easy implementation of the laws.
“It is one of the issues that we need to address and address urgently, the biggest is that our gun control legislation even though are not harmonized, we have series of them dotted around that makes even the implementation very difficult,” he said.
Major challenges
“The major challenge is that the laws do not put a limit on the number of weapons an individual can acquire or own in this country, and that is the biggest fear that we need to deal with.
“So, you sitting here, you can own an armory, you can go to Nima and register, come to the Ministry Police Station and register and go to Adenta and register etc, there is no limit to that per the law,” Asante Twum said.
“So that is something that needs to be dealt with immediately to prevent people from having multiple licenses.”
He believes the system needs to be centralized to avoid multiple registration by individuals in a bid to regulate the proliferation and multiple acquisition of arms in the country.
Fred Dzakpata
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