Introduction
In Ghana, celebrations are meant to bring communities together in joy, unity, and shared cultural expression. However, these moments of happiness often turn into tragedy when firearms are recklessly introduced. The deadly reality of indiscriminate gunfire is further compounded by the proliferation of unregulated weapons, a problem linked not only to social gatherings but also to criminal networks, political vigilantes, and illegal mining operations commonly known as “galamsey,” which have become hubs for illicit arms circulation.
On 27th January 2026, an arms-trafficking suspect abandoned a cache of weapons en route from the Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange to the Agbogbloshie Bus Terminal. The sack, marked “Kpandai,” is believed to have indicated the intended destination, while the suspect escaped police surveillance.
The incident highlights a disturbing trend in the widespread circulation of illegal firearms despite the amnesty granted by the Interior Minister and the frequent use of guns at public gatherings such as funerals, festivals, and social events. It underscores the proliferation of unregulated weapons and the entrenched culture of impunity surrounding their use.
The excessive possession of arms by “galamsey” operators and citizens has become an alarming threat to public safety and national security. Armed “galamsey” groups operate with increasing boldness, often clashing with security forces during anti-mining operations and contributing to rising incidents of shootings, injuries, and deaths, as happened at a “galamsey” site near Sukuumu, close to Bepotenten in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region.
Also, the use of firearms at festivals and funerals has become a troubling cultural practice in some communities, raising serious concerns about public safety and the value placed on human life. What is often intended as a display of honour, power, or celebration has, in many cases, resulted in tragic consequences, including accidental shootings, injuries, and deaths of innocent bystanders. The firing of guns into the air, especially in crowded spaces where children, women, especially pregnant women, and the elderly are present, turns moments meant for remembrance or cultural pride into scenes of fear and potential disaster.
When Celebration Turns to Tragedy
The true impact when celebration turns into tragedy is measured in lives cut short, families plunged into grief, and communities left traumatised. This article does not seek to reopen the wounds of bereaved families; rather, it seeks to draw attention to the human cost of indiscriminate gunfire in public spaces and the profound and lasting impact such acts have on families and communities.
On 12th March 2026, a 19-year-old pregnant woman, identified as Alice Serwaa who was standing in front of her home, is battling for her life after being struck by a stray bullet during the burial rites of a late queen mother at Hiawu Besease in the Atwima Nwabiagya South District. She is currently receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. However, the unborn baby she was carrying did not survive. According to reports, the bullet struck the fetus, resulting in a stillbirth. Another young girl was also injured during the incident after she was reportedly hit in the eye.
Also, on Saturday, February 22, 2025, a young girl identified as Naa Borley Ahmed was reportedly struck by a stray bullet during an enstoolment ceremony at Nungua. Her death remains a haunting reminder that bullets do not recognize joy or innocence.
A student of Bimbilla Senior High School, identified as Fatima, was reportedly struck in the neck by a stray bullet and died instantly during the celebration of the Fire Festival (Bugum Chugu) on Saturday, July 5, 2025. The bullet was allegedly fired by a celebrant using a small firearm during the festivities.
In August 2025, three people were killed and several others injured during violent clashes at the Homowo festival at Sowutuom. Reports indicate that five individuals armed with firearms stormed the area and opened fire indiscriminately. Similarly, at Teshie, at least two deaths were reported following violent clashes linked to the Homowo celebrations.
Their deaths were not as the result of armed robbery or violent confrontation, but of recklessness disguised as celebration. A moment of supposed communal happiness ended in irreversible loss.
These deaths have carved a permanent scar into the hearts of families and into the soul of the nation. Children who should have grown, learned, and thrived are gone, leaving behind grief that words cannot capture.
Their laughter, dreams, and futures have been stolen in an instant. When citizens are killed during festivals and communal events, the nation mourns not only the loss of lives but the loss of future leaders, innovators, and change-makers.
Each life cut short is a promise unfulfilled, a vision unrealised, and a contribution the country will never receive.
Equally concerning is the vulnerability of journalists covering festivals and “galamsey” activities. These media personnel often put themselves in harm’s way to report events, and in doing so they are exposed to indiscriminate violence, stray bullets, and attacks that undermine press freedom and the right to life as guaranteed under Article 13 and 162 of the 1992 Constitution.
The case of journalist Kofi Adoma illustrates the dangers posed by this culture of reckless gunfire. While performing his constitutionally protected duty under Article 162 on media freedom, he became a victim of firearm misuse that nearly cost him his life. Other incidents, including the widely discussed ‘Ciborg’ case, further highlight the pervasive risks posed by reckless gunfire.
Are these not isolated tragedies or they reflect a systemic failure to uphold the right to life guaranteed under Article 13 of the 1992 Constitution? Article 26(2) clearly prohibits any customary practice that threatens a person’s physical or mental well-being. The deadly gunfire at festivals, which has claimed innocent lives, is not just tragic. It is unlawful, preventable, and a stark failure to uphold the right to life as guaranteed under Article 13 of the 1992 Constitution.
Culture and the Constitution
Culture refers to the shared beliefs, customs, practices, and values of a people. Culture and tradition form the soul of societies. They define identity, preserve history, regulate social conduct, and shape moral values and institutions, including family systems, chieftaincy, and communal governance structures.
However, culture is not static. It evolves with social change, education, globalization, and democratic development. A society that treats culture as untouchable risks preserving harmful practices that no longer serve human dignity or social justice. Practices that violate human dignity must be abolished, even if they are culturally accepted.
Where tradition conflicts with human rights, equality, democracy, and the rule of law, tradition must yield to the Constitution. Yielding to the Constitution does not mean the destruction of culture; rather, it means reforming cultural practices so that they align with constitutional values.
The Constitution is the highest law of the land. It establishes the structure of government, guarantees fundamental human rights, and sets limits on the exercise of power.
In Ghana, Article 1(2) of the 1992 Constitution declares the Constitution supreme, meaning that any law, custom, or practice that is inconsistent with it is void. Constitutions are designed to protect individuals from abuse, discrimination, and arbitrary power.
More importantly, Article 26(2) of the 1992 Constitution provides that all customary practices which dehumanize or are injurious to the physical and mental well-being of a person are prohibited. This provision clearly establishes that cultural practices must operate within the boundaries of human dignity and constitutional rights. Consequently, any customary practice that violates these rights becomes unconstitutional, regardless of how long it has existed. In constitutional democracies, no custom, tradition, or cultural practice is above the Constitution.
The Use of Firearms and the Law
The Police and other security agencies may use firearms only under clearly defined circumstances, such as to protect themselves or others from serious harm, to prevent the commission of a serious crime, or to apprehend dangerous suspects. Even in these situations, the use of firearms by law enforcement is strictly regulated.
Section 7 (1) of the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1972 (NRCD 9), provides that no person is allowed to publicly display arms or ammunition, or discharge a firearm or any weapon in a public place, unless one of two conditions is satisfied: The person has a permit granted under the law, or the person has written consent from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
Subsection (2) of the above section clarifies the scope of the prohibition by stating that the rule in subsection (1) also applies to the performance of traditional ceremonies. This means that even where a person legally owns a firearm, that person cannot publicly display or discharge it in a public place without authorization. The restriction, therefore, extends to traditional events such as chiefs’ funerals, enstoolment ceremonies, festivals, and other cultural gatherings.
The law is intended to protect public safety and to prevent panic, injury, or death that may arise from reckless or celebratory gunfire. The question that arises is why does the public display and firing of firearms continue to occur at such gatherings. Does this mean that the persons involved have obtained authorization from the Inspector-General of Police, or are these acts taking place in violation of the law?
Should we, as a country, attribute the persistence of firearm discharges at such gatherings to long-standing cultural habits, weak enforcement of the law, and the widespread assumption that ceremonial gunfire is socially acceptable, even though this runs contrary to what the law stipulates?
Should we allow this practice to continue even though it is costing lives, leaving permanent scars on the hearts of grieving families, and destroying the potential of future leaders?
The uncontrolled discharge of firearms in public spaces exposes innocent bystanders to grave danger. Weak enforcement of the law and social tolerance of such conduct have allowed these illegal practices to persist. There is therefore the need for the Ghana Police Service to step up enforcement and ensure full compliance with the law.
The recent case involving Abubakari Sadick, alias ‘Cyborg’, who indiscriminately fired gunshots in public and was fined 2,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢24,000, with an alternative custodial sentence of up to two years for unlawfully discharging a firearm, highlights the seriousness of the offence. However, it is the view of the writer that Parliament should critically review the sanctions relating to the public display and discharge of firearms to determine whether they are sufficiently deterrent in addressing the growing risks posed by such conduct.
Conclusion
Indiscriminate gunfire in public spaces remains a serious threat to public safety. It is a direct danger to human life, a source of lasting trauma for families, and a threat to the future of our communities. What is often perceived as a form of celebration in many instances has resulted in tragic and devastating consequences.
Cultural practices, social tolerance, and weak enforcement have allowed these deadly acts to persist, but the law is clear. The law prohibits the public display and discharge of firearms without proper authorization, and it extends even to traditional ceremonies and public gatherings. However, the persistence of such practices reveals a troubling and disturbing gap between the law and its enforcement.
If Ghana is to promote a culture of responsible citizenship, it must confront the dangers posed by celebratory and indiscriminate gunfire. Cultural practices and public celebrations should never come at the cost of human life. A society that values life must ensure that joy and tradition do not become avenues for preventable tragedy.
End Reckless Gunfire in Public Places and Uphold the Law!!!.
Recommendations
- The Ghana Police Service and other security agencies must intensify enforcement of existing firearm laws and take decisive action against individuals who unlawfully display or discharge firearms in public places.
- Parliament should critically review the current sanctions relating to the unlawful display and discharge of firearms to determine whether they are sufficiently deterrent in addressing the increasing incidents of indiscriminate gunfire.
- There is a need for sustained public education campaigns to inform citizens about the legal consequences and dangers associated with celebratory gunfire.
- Government and security agencies should collaborate with chiefs, traditional councils, and community leaders to discourage the firing of guns during funerals, festivals, and other cultural ceremonies unless proper authorization has been obtained.
- Individuals who possess licensed firearms must be reminded that lawful ownership does not grant the right to use firearms recklessly. Responsible handling and strict adherence to the law must be emphasized.
God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong!!!
References
1992 Constitution of Ghana
Arms and Ammunition Act, 1972 (NRCD 9),
2026/01/arms-trafficking-suspect-drops-weapons-flees-police-surveillance/
2025/07/stray-bullet-kills-bimbilla-shs-student-amid-fire-festival-celebrations/
/homowo-2-reportedly-dead-scores-injured-in-sowutuom-clash-over-sprinkling-of-kpokpoi/
/stray-bullet-at-funeral-rites-leaves-pregnant-woman-hospitalised-baby-lost/
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