The Ghana Police Service has arrested three persons for unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region.

The arrests were made on Monday, February 3, 2026, during a routine patrol operation by officers in the district.

According to a police press release issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the Upper West Regional Command, on Thursday, February 5, the patrol team sighted a group of about five men at Goziri, a community near Vieri, who were openly armed with single-barreled guns and cutlasses, posing a threat to public safety.

Upon noticing the approaching police vehicle, the suspects attempted to flee the scene. However, the officers pursued them and successfully arrested three of the suspects.

They have been identified as Yahaya Samad, 27; Adams Alhassan, 37; and Yiritang Boosi, 35.

A search conducted on the suspects at the scene led to the retrieval of three single-barreled guns, three cutlasses, and twenty-three BB cartridges.

Police said during interrogation, the suspects admitted they had no licences to possess the firearms and ammunition.

The three have since been remanded into police custody by the Wa Magistrate Court, presided over by Simon Kofi Bediako, and are expected to reappear in court on February 18, 2026.

Meanwhile, the police say efforts have been intensified to apprehend the remaining suspects who managed to escape.

The Upper West Regional Police Command has commended the vigilance and professionalism of the patrol team and cautioned members of the public, especially individuals in possession of firearms without lawful authority, to regularise their status or face decisive action.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining peace and security across the region and called on the public to continue supporting the police with timely information.

Read the full statement below