Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has assured Ghanaians that weapons destroyed by the state will never find their way back into communities or the hands of criminals, reaffirming government’s commitment to tackling the proliferation of illicit firearms.
Speaking at the 8th National Arms Destruction Ceremony to commemorate the United Nations International Small Arms Destruction Day, Mr. Debrah said the destruction of the weapons was a clear demonstration of government’s resolve to protect lives and preserve national peace.
“There are moments in the life of a nation when the most powerful statement we can make is not spoken with many words; it is made through our actions. Today is one of those moments,” he said.
He stressed that the firearms being destroyed would no longer pose a threat to society.
“Weapons that were once capable of spreading fear, taking lives and destabilising communities will be destroyed. They will not return to our streets. They will not return to criminal hands. They will not return to threatening families, businesses, schools, places of worship and our democratic peace,” Mr. Debrah stated.
He noted that the ceremony was not only about destroying weapons but also about reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to building a gun violence-free society.
“Today we gather not merely to destroy weapons but to reaffirm our collective resolve that illicit firearms should have no place in our communities, our homes or in our national life,” he said.
The Chief of Staff revealed that 4,038 firearms were surrendered to the Ghana Police Service during the recent arms amnesty period, describing the public response as encouraging.
“This remarkable response demonstrates that when citizens are given the right information, the right opportunity and assurance of fairness, they will choose responsibility, they will choose patriotism, they will choose respect for the law,” he said.
Mr. Debrah assured that government would continue to support intelligence-led operations to recover illegal weapons, warning that those who continue to possess firearms unlawfully would face the full rigours of the law.
He also urged citizens to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities.
“Let us reject the culture of silence. Let us reject the attitude of ‘I will not be the one to say.’ When the safety of our communities is at stake, silence helps the wrong people. So if you see something, please say something,” he appealed.
He concluded by calling on all Ghanaians to work together to preserve the country’s peace.
“Together let us continue to silence the guns, let us protect our homes, let us defend our communities, and let us preserve the peace of our beloved country. Guns down, Ghana up,” he said.
