(Back Page) - Ashanti Police to retrieve illegal arms

Daily Graphic Tuesday October 27, 2009 (Back Page)

Story: Enoch Darfah Frimpong, Kumasi

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has given a two week ultimatum to persons in possession of illegal weapons to hand them over to the police.
The Command said it would soon embark on an exercise code named, “Operation Dragnet” to retrieve all illegal firearms from the Kumasi metropolis with the view to reducing robberies and other violent crimes.
It noted that all such weapons included imported but unlicensed and locally manufactured ones.
A statement signed by Chief Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko, in charge of the Public Affairs Unit of the Regional Police Command advised persons in possession of unlicensed firearms to take steps to regularise them with the police and those whose registration has expired to endeavour to use the two week grace period to register them.
The statement reminded the public that it was an offence under the Arms and Ammunitions Act 1962, Section 118(6) to possess firearms without authority as well as an offence under Section 118(15) to transfer firearms to another person without authority.
“It is in view of this that persons in possession of such firearms are advised to register same with the Arms and Ammunition Unit of the Regional Police Command”.
According to the Police, the objective of the exercise was to purge the metropolis of the illegal weapons as most violent crimes especially robberies were perpetrated with such weapons.
“We want to get rid of them or regularise them in order to help curb robberies and other violent crimes”, the Command said.
It said so far it has retrieved five of such weapons in two separate operations within the past one week from suspected criminals and they are currently helping police in their investigations.
It advised all persons who have firearms in their possession to go to the Regional Police Headquaters before November 3, 2009 to be assisted to register as anyone who will be found in possession of an unregistered weapon after the period will be arrested and prosecuted.
It also appealed to the public, particularly persons with information on people who are in possession of illegal weapons especially local manufactured pistol or any manufacturer to the Regional Police Command and assured informants of their protection.