628 Armed Robberies, 340 Murders Recorded as of July 2025 – Interior Minister Reveals
Alarmed by the escalating crime rate, the government has announced a Gun Amnesty program, allowing individuals to surrender illicit firearms without prosecution in a bid to curb the violence.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has disclosed alarming crime statistics for the first half of 2025, reporting 628 armed robberies and 340 murders across Ghana as of the end of July.
At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, November 18, the Minister expressed deep concern, noting that the figures for just seven months are already approaching half of the total recorded for the entire previous year. In 2024, Ghana recorded 1,219 robberies and 552 murders.
“The statistics are not looking good at all… All of these people used violent means to achieve this and the use of illicit arms,” the Minister stated, highlighting the link between violent crime and the proliferation of illegal weapons.
In a decisive response, the government has announced a Gun Amnesty initiative. Described by the Minister as a “bold and compassionate initiative,” the program will allow individuals in possession of illicit firearms to surrender them to authorities without facing prosecution.
The amnesty is the result of extensive consultations with the Police Service, the National Commission on Small Arms, security agencies, and civil society groups. The government aims to reduce the number of illegal weapons in circulation and enhance public safety.
The Ministry also revealed plans to engage traditional authorities to enforce a ban on the use of firearms during cultural festivals and celebrations, further extending efforts to curb armed violence. Minister Mubarak stressed the importance of community cooperation, urging citizens to participate actively in the amnesty to help create a safer Ghana.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
