The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has reminded the public that possession of firearms without a license in the country is illegal and punishable under the law. Therefore, members of the public interested in possessing firearms must use appropriate channels to acquire them, otherwise the law will deal with them when caught.
Chairman of the Commission, Rev. Professor Frimpong-Manso, made the statement at the first Greater Accra East Regional Council Meeting of the Assemblies of God at Shai Hills.
He said for one to legally acquire and possess arms, the person must be 18 years and above and of sound mind, have a justifiable reason to possess them, be physically fit to handle weapon, have a safe and secured place to keep them and must have the requisite resources for its up keep.
He said about one point six million small arms are illegally sold out annually, but only forty thousand are registered leaving the remaining one point five hundred and 60 million as illicit weapons in possession of people in the country.