The Ministry of the Interior has extended the Gun Amnesty Programme (GAP) to January 30, 2026, following what the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA) describes as an encouraging public response during the initial phase of the exercise.
The extension, which runs from January 16 to January 30, provides an additional two weeks for individuals in possession of unlicensed or illicit firearms to voluntarily surrender or register them “without fear of interrogation, arrest, or prosecution,” NACSA said in a statement issued on January 17, 2026.
According to the Commission, the decision to prolong the programme is aimed at reaching more people, particularly those in hard-to-reach communities, who may not have been able to participate during the initial period, which began on December 1, 2025 and ended on January 15, 2026.
NACSA, however, warned that the extension represents a final opportunity for compliance, stressing that enforcement will be intensified after the deadline.
“After 30th January, 2026, security agencies will intensify enforcement operations, and any person found in possession of an unregistered or illicit firearm will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the statement cautioned.
The Commission also appealed to traditional and community leaders to support the programme and encourage participation at the grassroots level.
“NACSA urges chiefs, traditional authorities, religious leaders, opinion leaders, community groups, and the media to continue supporting the Gun Amnesty Programme by encouraging full participation within their communities,” the statement noted.
Highlighting the broader national significance of the initiative, the Commission said the programme offers Ghana a critical opportunity to reduce the spread of illicit firearms and curb gun-related violence.
“The time is now; let us silence the guns for our own safety,” the statement said, reinforcing the campaign message: “Guns down, Ghana up!”
