The Ministry of the Interior, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and Halo Trust, has destroyed more than 4,000 illegal firearms as part of Ghana’s 8th National Arms Destruction Ceremony.

The event, held to commemorate the United Nations Small Arms Destruction Day, brought together government officials, traditional leaders, clergy, security agencies, members of the diplomatic community, the media, and international security partners.
The exercise which was held at National Police Training School-Tesano , formed part of the government’s Gun Amnesty Programme, which was launched to retrieve unregistered firearms from across the country.

According to the Ministry, the recovered weapons included pistols, pump-action guns, AK-47 rifles, single-barrel and double-barrel guns, as well as other locally manufactured and imported firearms.

Addressing the ceremony, the Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Muntaka Mohammed, commended the Ghana Police Service and citizens who voluntarily surrendered their weapons during the amnesty period.

He stressed that reducing the number of illegal firearms in circulation is key to minimizing violent crime and improving public safety, adding that a gun-free society is essential for national peace and security.

Guest of Honour, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, also praised the initiative, describing the retrieval and destruction of unregistered firearms as a critical step toward addressing threats to Ghana’s national security.
He issued a strong warning that the amnesty period has officially ended and that security agencies will now strictly enforce the law against anyone found in possession of unregistered firearms.
According to him, individuals who continue to keep illegal weapons will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of Ghana.
The firearms destruction exercise underscores the government’s commitment to combating the proliferation of illegal weapons and strengthening national security through sustained enforcement and public cooperation.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has reaffirmed that Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2026, have been designated as mandatory National Clean-Up Days, with the exercise scheduled to run from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on both days.

Speaking at a press conference at the ministry, the minister said the nationwide exercise follows a directive issued by President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, July 6, 2026, to intensify sanitation efforts, particularly in communities affected by the recent floods.

According to Ahmed Ibrahim, the clean-up exercise forms part of activities to commemorate National Sanitation Day while preventing possible disease outbreaks in the aftermath of the devastating floods.
He announced that all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the security services, government agencies, private institutions, waste management organizations and other stakeholders are expected to fully participate in the exercise.

The minister further directed that all shops located within flood-affected areas must remain closed between 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday to allow residents and businesses to take part in the clean-up.
He urged all Ghanaians to actively participate in what he described as an important national exercise aimed at restoring cleanliness and protecting public health.

Ahmed Ibrahim also called on all Regional Coordinating Councils to ensure that the necessary logistics and equipment are deployed to designated locations in good time to facilitate a successful clean-up operation across the country

Friday, July 10, is not a public holiday, despite the nationwide closure of markets and shops in seven flood-affected regions as part of a two-day National General Cleaning Exercise ordered by President John Dramani Mahama.

The nationwide clean-up follows the devastating floods that struck several parts of the country, particularly the Greater Accra Region, on June 29, claiming at least 12 lives and affecting approximately 38,800 people. The floods caused widespread destruction to homes, businesses, roads, and other public infrastructure.

The government has launched the clean-up campaign to clear debris, desilt drains, and disinfect flood-affected markets and public spaces in an effort to prevent disease outbreaks and reduce the impact of future flooding.

President Directs Nationwide Participation

President Mahama declared July 10 and 11, 2026, as National General Cleaning Days and instructed ministers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), heads of public institutions, and other government officials to leave their offices and lead clean-up activities within their respective communities.

The exercise is being coordinated by the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee under the theme: “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods.”

The announcement was made by Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu in a statement issued on July 6, 2026.

Markets and Shops to Remain Closed

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, said all markets and shops in the affected regions must remain closed throughout the two-day exercise to allow authorities to desilt drains, remove waste, and disinfect market areas.

He stressed that everyone is expected to participate and warned that traders or business owners who defy the directive by opening their shops would face sanctions.

“Everybody must be on board. All markets and shops must be closed. So if you go and open your shop, you will be on fire,” he cautioned.

Mr Ibrahim explained that the directive is legally backed and urged Ghanaians not to disregard the President’s instruction.

“If a president speaks and you want to take it for granted, the law will deal with you. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.

According to him, the temporary closure is necessary because many markets were inundated during the floods, making proper sanitation essential before commercial activities resume.

“The floodwaters entered many markets. If we don’t clean, remove the debris and disinfect these places, people will continue buying and selling contaminated goods, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks,” he explained.

Friday Remains a Normal Working Day

Although markets and shops will be closed, Friday remains an official working day.

Speaking on Peace FM on July 8, Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu clarified that public sector workers are expected to dedicate the day to the clean-up exercise instead of their regular office duties.

He appealed to employers across both the public and private sectors to release their staff to participate, describing the initiative as a collective national responsibility.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu further announced that Saturday, July 11, has been designated for the general public to join the nationwide exercise in their various communities.

He added that Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah and his team have already begun preparations to ensure the successful implementation of the exercise.

The National General Cleaning Exercise will be carried out across the Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Western, Western North, Ashanti, and Eastern regions, all of which were affected by the recent floods.

source:graphic.com.gh