Ghana’s National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA) has re-emphasised the need for members of the public to speak out whenever they notice any suspicious activities related to arms and ammunition anywhere in the country.
The call follows the arrest of two men for reportedly attempting to traffic 29 packs of AAA Redstar shotgun cartridges through an unapproved route from the Ghanaian border town of Aflao to Togo’s capital, Lomé. The ammunition was hidden among some articles of clothing packed in sacks.
The items were intercepted during a security operation conducted in the border town on Tuesday, 8 April 2025, by NACSA in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ghana Immigration Service and the Defence Intelligence of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
“Our efforts depend on the valuable information provided by the public,” said NACSA on its Facebook page after the arrest.
“If you witness anything suspicious or have any information regarding arms, speak up and help protect our nation. Together, we can ensure a safer future for all.”
Investigations, according to the commission, revealed that the ammunition was purchased from an Accra-based licensed arms and ammunition dealer who was not compliant with the “regulatory guidelines and had sold quantities exceeding the legally permitted limit.”
The commission further underscored the need for all licensed arms and ammunition dealers in the country to adhere to the regulatory standards applicable to their operations.
“The Small Arms Commission calls on all licensed arms and ammunition dealers to strictly comply with the regulations governing their operations, as adherence to these regulations is critical in preventing the diversion of arms and ammunition, which could fuel organised crime and conflicts,” it stated.
The two suspects, according to NACSA, have been remanded by a circuit court at Denu-Torkor in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta region.
The commission provided some telephone lines through which the public could provide the appropriate agencies with information regarding any suspicious handling or movements of arms and ammunition.
The lines are: the National Security, 999; the Ghana Police Service, 18555 and NACSA, +233 (0)59 907 0944 (Call/WhatsApp).
Source: Edward Adeti/Media Without Borders/mwbonline.org/Ghana
