The Deputy Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms, Gyebi Asante, has raised concerns over the confiscation of guns and live ammunition at the Tema Port.
According to him, there have been multiple engagements on various platforms to raise awareness among Ghanaians that importing weapons into the country without proper authorisation is illegal.
Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on Wednesday, Mr Asante said such incidents pose a serious threat to the national security of the country and should not be occurring.
“It is a crime, and according to the Criminal Offences Act, it is a first-degree felony,” he stated.
His remarks follow the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) seizure of a 40-foot container at the Tema Port.
The container, numbered MEDU4496951, was shipped from the United States and falsely declared to contain vehicles and personal effects. Upon inspection on 4 November 2024, officials discovered 53 pistols, 74 magazines, and 65 live rounds of ammunition concealed in suitcases.
The operation resulted from thorough investigations conducted by the GRA’s Intelligence and Preventive Units.
The Commissioner of Customs, Brigadier General Zibrim Ayorrogo, confirmed the development, saying, “Arrests have been made, and investigations are ongoing to unravel the full details of the shipment and its intended recipients.”
In light of this, Mr Asante urged those involved in illegal arms smuggling to desist, warning, “when it gets into the country, you will never know where these weapons will end.”
Commenting on the current political climate and the upcoming 7 December general elections, Mr Asante stressed the need for peace elections.
He urged Ghanaians to ensure the country maintains the peace it currently enjoys.
“This is not the time to introduce any weapons into the elections. We are just going to exercise our franchise and express our opinion for who we want to lead us. And so we should all go to the polls, be law-abiding, vote and go your way,” he said.
Mr Asante cautioned against prematurely linking the confiscated weapons to the elections.
He stated that he does not believe the confiscated weapons are related to the December 7 general elections, stressing that such a conclusion cannot be made until the investigations are completed.
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