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.This was disclosed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police Godwin Ahianyo, Head of Public Affairs for the Ashanti Regional Police Command, on Sunday, May 18.Following their arrest, both individuals were granted bail and are to report to the police on Monday, May 19, as investigations continue.The illegal possession of guns has become a common trend in Ghana. Experts have called for stricter punishments for culprits.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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