The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has voiced serious concerns over what he says is the rising influx of arms and ammunition into Ghana, many of which remain unregistered and untraceable.

Speaking during a working visit to the Northern Region on Wednesday, 21 May, the minister highlighted the growing threat that unlicensed firearms pose to national security.

Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka revealed that the number of unregistered weapons in civilian hands has reached an alarming level, fuelling a disturbing trend of indiscriminate gunfire often sparked by minor provocations.

“The number of arms in the hands of our citizens is getting to an alarming level. It’s giving the Peace Council, police, and other security agencies a lot of headaches. At the least provocation, you hear a gunshot. How did the people get the guns?” he asked.

He emphasised the urgent need for a national response to ensure that all firearms in circulation are properly registered.

This, he said, would enable security agencies to track and identify illegal weapons more effectively.

He further advocated for the use of technology-driven solutions combined with stronger collaboration between the government and private sector to curb the spread of illegal arms.

“We have to get private people to partner with the government. The government alone cannot do it. Now technology is so easy that we should be able to use technology to detect who imports and sells the guns,” he stated.

Mr Mubarak Muntaka stressed that leveraging technological tools is crucial to safeguarding the country.