Senior Associate at Edfields Attorneys, Prince Benson Mankotam, has cautioned the public against the unlawful display and use of firearms in public spaces, stressing that such actions are criminal under Ghanaian law.
Speaking in an interview with Feeling Daddy on The Starr Showbiz, the legal practitioner explained that Ghana has sufficient legal frameworks governing the possession and use of firearms.
However, the major issues remain enforcement and public education. "We have laws that prohibit the wielding, brandishing, and discharging of firearms," Mankotam said. "What people don't understand is that the fact that you have a licensed gun does not necessarily mean that you can discharge it anywhere or at any time." He referenced Ghana's Criminal Offences Act (Act 29), which criminalises unlawful possession and misuse of firearms.
According to him, there are at least three firearm-related offences frequently enforced by the police: possessing a gun without a lawful excuse, carrying offensive weapons in public without authority, and discharging firearms in unauthorised settings. "Even if you have a license, you are not allowed to display or discharge the gun in public without prior written consent from the Inspector General of Police (IGP)," he added. "Failure to comply could result in criminal charges." Citing previous incidents such as the altercation involving musicians Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy at the VGMA2019 awards event, Mankotam emphasised that even licensed gun holders could be penalised if they act outside the permitted scope of their license.
