Deputy Minister for the Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has opened a Trainer of Trainers Workshop for the upcoming Gun Amnesty Programme, a national initiative aimed at reducing the proliferation and misuse of firearms.

The workshop, held at the National Police Training School in Accra, is designed to equip selected officers with the technical expertise and operational protocols needed to implement the programme and serve as its ambassadors.

The Gun Amnesty Programme, once launched, will offer citizens a safe opportunity to voluntarily register or surrender unregistered and illicit firearms without fear of interrogation, arrest, or prosecution.

Addressing participants, Mr Terlabi expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of gun-related violence across the country.

He stressed that the amnesty is not a trap but a genuine chance for the public to play their part in enhancing national security.

“The goal is simple but urgent: to remove illicit firearms from circulation, enhance public safety, and reinforce Ghana’s reputation as a haven of peace and security in West Africa,” he said.

He urged the officers to approach their duties with honesty, patience, and respect, emphasising the importance of building trust and maintaining confidentiality throughout the process.

Acting Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA), Dr. Adam Bonaa, described the training as a critical step toward implementing one of Ghana’s most comprehensive firearm amnesty programmes since independence.

He said the workshop will empower officers with the skills and knowledge needed to train others in districts across the country.

The session brought together officers from the Ministry of the Interior, police districts nationwide, and officials from the Small Arms Commission.