The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons is urging Parliament and Cabinet to expedite the passage of a new Firearms Regulation Bill, following the tragic death of a student during the recent Fire Festival in Bimbilla.
The victim, a student of Bimbilla Senior High School, was fatally struck by a stray bullet, an incident that has reignited concerns over the widespread and largely unregulated use of firearms during public gatherings and traditional events.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom, Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Adam Bonaa, described Ghana’s existing gun laws as dangerously outdated and ill-equipped to handle today’s realities.
“The laws we have currently for gun regulation are over 50 years old,” he said. “At the moment, there is no central regulator overseeing firearms. So anybody at all is getting access to guns.”
According to Bonaa, the Commission has already drafted a new firearms bill, which is currently awaiting Cabinet review. He expressed hope that it would move to Parliament for consideration in the coming months.
The call for reform comes amid growing reports of children and teenagers gaining access to weapons, often stolen from parents or family members who possess them legally.
“Children in second-cycle schools are stealing their parents’ sidearms to school,” Bonaa revealed. “But unfortunately, we are not able to deal with these issues effectively under the current legal framework.”
While awaiting legislative change, the Commission says it is working closely with security agencies to intensify public education and clamp down on illegal firearm possession, particularly in areas where gun-related incidents have become alarmingly frequent.
“Once this bill is passed, a lot of changes are going to take place within the arms space in this country,” Bonaa added. “But until that is done, we must keep engaging the public and enforcing the law as best we can.”
The incident in Bimbilla has sparked nationwide discussions about gun culture, safety during traditional festivals, and the urgent need for policy reform to prevent further loss of life.
