Extend gun amnesty period - Asogli chiefs
The chiefs of Asogli have called on the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons to extend the amnesty date for the voluntary handing over of guns by the holders.
The commission set December 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026 as the amnesty window.
“The extension of the amnesty period is necessary because the campaign message of the amnesty has still not reached many gun owners in many communities,” said the Dufia of Ho-Heve, Togbe Anikpi III.”
He made the appeal when a delegation from the commission, led by the Executive Secretary, Dr Adam A.A. Bonna paid a courtesy call at the Asogli Palace at Ho-Bankoe on Tuesday (January 6) to explain the need to retrieve all illegal weapons from the populace.
Togbe Anikpi said there were a lot of unregistered guns in many homes, being kept surreptitiously in the Volta Region.
The amnesty, he said, was an opportunity for the owners of those weapons to hand them over without any hitch.
The Dufia of Ho-Heve, therefore, entreated the commission to take advantage of the numerous FM radio stations in the region, which cut across the barriers of language, to reach out to the people with the amnesty message.
He also urged the media to support the exercise vigorously in the broader national interest.
Togbe Anikpi pledged the chiefs of Asogli would throw their weight behind the exercise to ensure its success.
For his part, Dr Bonaa said it was gratifying the chiefs had pledged to support the exercise, saying that would definitely bring an early and positive result of the exercise.
Dr Bonaa cited the shooting incident at the Ho Central Mosque on Boxing Day, last year, and said that was made possible by the availability of guns in the wrong hands.
“There are now too many illicit weapons in homes and communities and that poses danger to the nation,” he pointed out.
Dr Bonaa gave an assurance that those who surrendered their weapons within the amnesty window from December 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026 year would not be arrested.
However, those who failed to surrender their weapons would be prosecuted, he warned.
Touching on chieftaincy disputes, Dr Bonaa said guns were not supposed to be kept in palaces.
“We need our chiefs to set good examples in the campaign for peace,” he maintained.
The visiting team earlier paid a similar visit on the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, at the Ho Residency.
