The Police in Walewale in the North East Region have arrested two individuals for stealing a pistol and ammunition belonging to an immigration officer.

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The suspects; Mohammed Basit (18) and Baba Rasid (22), per a police report, entered the room of the immigration officer on Saturday, May 17, while he was away.

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They managed to steal the officer's Smith & Wesson pistol loaded with ten rounds of ammunition as well as his two CZ rifle magazines loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition each.

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Through intelligence, the suspects were arrested at Kperiga, a suburb of Walewale.

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The suspects hid the pistol and ammunition in a stationary vehicle.

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Investigations are ongoing, and suspects will be put before court.

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In an unrelated development, the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has bemoaned the influx of unregistered arms and ammunition in the country.During a working visit to the Northern Region on Wednesday, May 21, the minister noted that the current trend threatens national security.“Let us see you abiding by the laws of our country. It’s the only way you will be able to help. The number of arms in the hands of our citizens is getting to an alarming level. It’s giving the Peace Council, police, and other security agencies a lot of headaches. At the least provocation, you hear a gunshot. How did the people get the guns?” he asked.The minister, who also serves as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asawase, called for a united effort to free the country from illegal arms.“We have to get private people to partner with the government. The government alone cannot do it. Now technology is so easy that we should be able to use technology to detect who imports and sells the guns. What can we use technology to make our country safe?"

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A 16-year-old form two student of Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) has been arrested by the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command for illegally possessing a locally manufactured firearm.

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The police arrested the suspect following a routine dormitory search by school authorities on Wednesday, May 14.

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According to the accused, the weapon belonged to his stepfather, Mr. Daniel Owusu Baafi, who has been apprehended.

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Also, two individuals - Yaw Adu and Samando Dokurugu, alias Shapichino—were arrested on May 16 for unlawful possession of arms and ammunition at Ahenkro in the Ashanti Region.

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The Ashanti North Regional Police Command nabbed the duo while riding a motorbike with registration number M-25-NR 1634.

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The police retrieved an Adler Tulpar Pump Action shotgun with serial number 24SA-1073, and three live BB cartridges from Samando Dokurugu after a search was conducted.The illegal possession of guns has become a common trend in Ghana. Experts have called for stricter punishments for culprits.

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Speaking to The Independent Ghana, the Deputy Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PPME) at the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA), Gyebi Asante, highlighted the urgent need to review existing laws governing firearms possession to better align with current security challenges.

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“We are advocating for the law to be reviewed to suit the current situation and also be able to align with our current dispensation. It is something we have taken steps to do."

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"Already we have a proposed bill, National Arms Bill, at the Ministry of Interior to look at the document and endorse it. For example, the penal sanction: when you have a law that regulates the possession of arms that can kill, you must have a strong penal sanction that can deter people from going behind the law to buy these weapons, so the law as it is now is not deterrent enough,” he added.

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