Accra: The Ho Municipal Information Services Department (ISD) has embarked on a public education campaign on the Gun Amnesty Programme (GAP), urging citizens to surrender their unregistered firearms without fear of prosecution.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Yvonne Elikplim Harlley-Kanyi, Ho Municipal Information Officer, explained that the programme, running from December 1, 2025, to January 30, 2026, aims to reduce the proliferation of illicit firearms and promote national security. She emphasized that individuals surrendering their weapons would not be arrested, interrogated, or prosecuted.
Mrs. Harlley-Kanyi encouraged everyone, including community leaders, to support the initiative by visiting designated points in the municipality to willingly submit their guns. She noted that the programme aims to curb gun violence and related crimes in Ho, Volta, and the country at large. Security agencies would intensify operations to retrieve illicit arms after the amnesty ends.
The campaign, which started Wednesday and is expected to end Friday, has seen officers of the Ho ISD visit communities in the municipality, including Sokode, Takla, Hodo, Hoviefe, Kpenoe, Nyive, Atikpui, Tokokoe, and Shia. This is a direct response from the Volta Regional ISD to its district offices to undertake the three-day intensive public education campaign on GAP.
The directive is part of a nationwide campaign by the ISD with support from the Ministry of Interior and Small Arms Commission. It aims to sensitise the public on the objectives, processes, and benefits of the GAP, which encourages the voluntary surrender of illegal and unregistered firearms.
Mr. Emmanuel Kwesi Domi, Volta Regional Information Officer, charged Municipal and District Information Officers in the region to fully commit themselves to the campaign. He urged them to ensure that the message reaches every segment of the population and to make effective use of all available communication channels, including community information centres, community gatherings, and radio discussions.
Mrs. Harlley-Kanyi, in an interview, stated that the campaign has so far been successful, based on people's reception, attention, and eagerness to learn more about the programme. Some residents appreciated the sensitisation efforts by the ISD, noting that the team communicated clearly what was required of them. Some even requested an extension of the amnesty period to reach underserved communities.
At Shia, a border community, Fiator Felix Ako praised the objectives of GAP and encouraged community members to embrace the programme and register their firearms. He shared his positive experience of surrendering his firearm without facing interrogation or harassment.
Felix Ako also noted that not enough is being done to spread awareness about the programme. He expressed a desire for an extended campaign duration to reach more people and ensure the programme's objectives are achieved.