Ghana urged to tighten gun laws as festival turns deadly

A security consultant, Richard Kumadoe has said the weak regulation and poor monitoring of firearms in Ghana was contributing to putting deadly weapons into the hands of people with no legitimate reason to own them

Commenting on violence and avoidable tragedies, especially during traditional festivals Mr Kumadoe said the responsible agencies ought to enforce the law on firearm.

His comment followed the death of a second-year student of the Bimbilla Senior High School, who was hit and killed by a stray bullet during the annual Fire Festival in Bimbilla in the Nanumba North Municipality of the Northern Region on Sunday.

The incident occurred at a time the festival procession was moving from the regent’s palace to Wampu Dam for ritual activities.

In an interview with TV3 on Monday, July 7, Mr Kumadoe stressed that Ghana’s firearms licensing and oversight systems remain dangerously porous.

He called for stricter background checks and clear criteria for who qualifies to own a gun, the types of weapons permitted, and robust monitoring to ensure accountability.

“Considering the fact that arms are spilling into the hands of illegitimate people, we need to tighten background checks and ensure registration is properly monitored,” he said.

“If we fail to monitor these weapons, we will continue to see festivals and gatherings marred by stray bullets,” he warned.

He described a worrying trend where traditional festivals have become “vulnerable grounds” for individuals to settle personal scores, often with deadly consequences.

“The chiefs and traditional authorities have no control over who comes to these events with weapons, or the types of arms they carry,” he noted.

Mr Kumadoe added that while some individuals legitimately import firearms for business, the lack of oversight allows these weapons to reach criminal hands.