Security agencies urged to retrieve illegal weapons

Page 28: June 26, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Ministry of the Interior has directed the security agencies to take steps to retrieve all weapons in unauthorised hands.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen, who gave the directive in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said the use of weapons, even in minor disputes, was a source of concern to the government, more especially as the elections drew nearer.
He, therefore, called on non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to assist the security agencies to ensure that all illegal arms were retrieved.
He said the need for a conscious effort to retrieve the weapons had become paramount in view of the abuse of weapons by some people, creating panic and confusion in the country.
Nana Boahen stated that the possession of arms without authority was illegal in the country, explaining that there was an erroneous impression in some circles that the ban on the possession of arms was in place only in conflict-prone areas.
He said the law provided that any person who owned, possessed or controlled any arms, including ammunition, was enjoined by law to register and regularise it with the police, saying those who had had their arms registered were enjoined by law to renew their permits annually.
He said the illegal possession and use of arms had become rampant and so every Ghanaian must help the government to deal with the problem.
The minister said the driver or owner of a vehicle was enjoined by law to ask for documents, particularly permits, before allowing anyone to put arms onto the vehicle.
He said the law enforcement agencies must stamp their authority on the growing menace and appealed to the judiciary to assist.
He noted that the law regulating the possession of arms was not limited to only Ghanaians but foreigners as well and indicated that Fulani herdsmen were not permitted to carry arms unless they had been permitted to do so by the police.
Nana Boahen mentioned grenades, rifles, locally manufactured guns and dynamite as some of the arms which could not be used without permission.