The Ministry of the Interior has extended the nationwide Gun Amnesty Programme (GAP) to January 30, 2026, as part of the government’s efforts to curb the proliferation of illicit and unregistered firearms and strengthen public safety.

In a notice on Thursday, January 15, the Minitry said the initial amnesty, declared on November 18, 2025, took effect on December 1 and was expected to end on January 15, 2026.

However, it said the exercise has generated strong public interest and cooperation across the country, prompting calls from key stakeholders for additional time to allow more people to comply.

According to the Ministry, ongoing engagements with traditional authorities, religious leaders, civil society organisations and community groups revealed that extending the deadline would enable individuals, particularly in hard-to-reach communities, to voluntarily surrender or regularise their firearms without fear or hesitation.

The extension, which runs from January 16 to January 30, 2026, is therefore intended to deepen public sensitisation and strengthen community participation.

During the extended period, individuals who previously declared their intention to register firearms under the initial amnesty window will be allowed to complete the registration process.

The Ministry said that the programme allows the surrender or registration of unlicensed or illicit firearms without interrogation, arrest or prosecution.

However, the Interior Ministry has stressed that this extension represents a final opportunity for compliance.

It noted that after January 30, law enforcement agencies will intensify intelligence-led operations, including targeted searches and swoops, to retrieve illegal firearms.

"Any individual found in possession of an unregistered or illicit firearm after the expiration of the GAP extension period will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. The consequences will be firm and uncompromising," the notice read.

• Read also: Gun Amnesty: Take advantage before it expires on January 15 – Interior Ministry

The Ministry reiterated that the Gun Amnesty Programme is not a witch-hunt, but a life-saving national exercise aimed at protecting lives, improving community safety and preserving Ghana’s reputation as a peaceful and stable country.

"The Ministry calls on chiefs, elders, religious leaders, opinion leaders, youth groups, community associations, and the media to continue supporting this national effort by encouraging full compliance within their communities."

“Every firearm surrendered is one less threat to lives and livelihoods,” the Ministry said, urging the public to “silence the guns for our own safety.”