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Ghana — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Ghana is 80,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Ghana is 0.42 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Ghana ranked at No. 1431

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Ghana ranked at No. 1742

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Estimated Number of Illicit Firearms

Unlawfully held guns cannot be counted, but in Ghana there are estimated to be 130,0003

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Estimated Rate of Illicit Firearms per 100 Population

Unlawfully held guns cannot be counted, but in Ghana there are estimated to be 0.64 illicit firearms per 100 people

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Ghana are reported to have 23,1805 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Ghana are reported to have 31,3326 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

Number of Homicides (any method)

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Ghana, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2005: 1.707
2004: 6.80
2003: 2.10
2002: 9.20
2001: 2.34
2000: 2.48
1999: 2.16
1998: 2.22
1996: 2.23

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Import Control

In Ghana, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 8 9

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Ghana is reported to be US$5,797,07010 (2009)

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Smuggling Guns and Ammunition

Reports suggest that the level of firearm and ammunition smuggling in Ghana is low11

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Ghana is reported to be US$12012

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In Ghana, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not specifically regulated by law8

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Ghana, the law does not require13 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In Ghana, State agencies are required9 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Ghana, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is not required by law13

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Firearm Tracing

In Ghana, state authorities do not carry out13 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

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Collection, Amnesty and Destruction Programmes

Authorities in Ghana are known to have14 implemented voluntary firearm surrender schemes, and/or weapon seizure programmes in order to reduce the number of illicit firearms in circulation

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Small Arms Destroyed

In Ghana, the total number of firearms destroyed following recent amnesty, collection and seizure programmes is reported to be 3,38714

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Destruction and Disposal Policy

In Ghana, it is state policy15 14 to destroy surplus, collected and seized firearms rather than return them to the secondary arms market

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

African Union

In June 2006, as a member of the African Union, Ghana adopted an African Common Position to take to the Conference to Review the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA), held in June 200616

Economic Community of West African States

In June 2006, as a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ghana adopted the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Related Materials. This stipulates strict controls on the transfer, manufacture, possession and security of small arms and light weapons17

United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

At the resumption of the most recent session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (UNCCPCJ), a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council mandated to promote action to prevent national and transnational crime, Ghana was listed as an elected member for a three-year term of office18

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Ghana voted to begin19 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed20 by Ghana

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Ghana committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects21

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Ghana has submitted one or more national reports22 23 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Ghana, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated24

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Ghana, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated24 23

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Ghana submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is apparent24 23

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated23 by Ghana to other UN Member States

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UNPoA International Assistance – Recipient

Funds for UNPoA implementation have been provided23 to Ghana by other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Ghana has not declared1 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Ghana has been a Member State of the United Nations since 195725

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list26 Ghana as a Participating State
Last Updated on 29 January 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

3.

Ghana News Agency. 2011. ‘Security Personnel Urged To Be Vigilant To Stem Small Arms Smuggling.’ 9 August. (N255) Full Citation

4.

GunPolicy.org.2011.‘Calculated Rates – Ghana.’ Historical Population Data – USCB International Data Base.Suitland, MD:US Census Bureau Population Division,9 August. (Q5555)Full Citation

5.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

6.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

7.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘Sub-Saharan Africa, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3812)Full Citation

8.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

9.

Ghana.2010.‘Stockpile Management and Security.’ National Report of Ghana on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of the Republic of Ghana to the United Nations,18 June. (Q4604)Full Citation

10.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

11.

AEFJN.2010.‘Countries that Send Arms to Embargoed Territories.’ Arms Exports and Transfers: From Sub-Saharan Africa to Sub-Saharan Africa.Brussels:Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN),1 December. (Q5101)Full Citation

12.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

13.

Ghana.2010.‘Marking, Record Keeping and Tracing.’ National Report of Ghana on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of the Republic of Ghana to the United Nations,18 June. (Q4605)Full Citation

14.

Ghana News Agency. 2010. ‘Commission on Small Arms Destroys Weapons in Kumasi.’ 2 October. (N203) Full Citation

15.

UNDPI.2006.‘Major Review at United Nations to Assess Progress Made, Actions Needed to Further Stem Illegal Small Arms Trade.’ Department of Public Information, News and Media Division, Peace and Security Section.New York:United Nations,20 June. (Q5075)Full Citation

16.

African Union / UNODA.2005.‘Windhoek Common Position.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:African Union / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,14 December. (Q3216)Full Citation

17.

ECOWAS / UNODA.2006.‘Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Related Materials.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Economic Community of West African States Secretariat / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,14 June. (Q3219)Full Citation

18.

UNCCPCJ / UNODC.1991.‘Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.’ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.Vienna:United Nations Economic and Social Council / United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,1 January. (Q3222)Full Citation

19.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

20.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

21.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

22.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

23.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

24.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

25.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

26.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation