The Wa District Magistrate Court convicted three men Wednesday for unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition without legal authorization, in a rapid judicial crackdown on illegal arms in Ghana’s Wa West District.Yiritang Boosi, 35, Yahaya Samad, 27, and Adams Alhassan, 37, appeared before Magistrate Simon Kofi Bediako.
Remanded since their arrest earlier this month, the trio pleaded guilty to the charges.A Ghana Police Service statement from the Upper West Regional Public Affairs Unit said the court fined each man 200 penalty units — equivalent to 2,400 Ghana cedis ($150) — with nine months’ imprisonment in default.
The arrests followed a routine patrol on Feb. 3 near Goziri, close to Vieri in Wa West District. Officers spotted men openly carrying single-barrel guns and cutlasses, prompting a chase. Police apprehended the three suspects, recovering three single-barrel guns, three cutlasses, and 23 BB cartridges. The men admitted during questioning that they had no licenses for the weapons; others fled.
The case underscores police efforts to stem unlicensed firearms in the region, often tied to hunting but posing risks to public safety amid Ghana’s strict Arms and Ammunition Act, which requires licenses for all possession.Regional Police Commander DCOP Francis Yiribaare’s statement urged public tips to aid anti-crime operations: “Collaboration with citizens remains key in our fight against crime.” Excerpts of the statement added.
The ruling aligns with national pushes for tougher enforcement of firearms laws to enhance security in Ghana’s Upper West Region.
