GUM Advocates for Retrieval of Civilian Guns Ahead of December 7 Polls

Ghana Union Movement (GUM) has urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to implement an Executive Instrument aimed at retrieving all civilian firearms ahead of the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.

GUM emphasized the importance of collecting both registered and unregistered guns as part of broader efforts to ensure peaceful elections in the country.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Reverend Christian Kwabena Andrews, the founder and flagbearer of GUM, expressed concern over recent incidents of violence at some polling stations and called for proactive measures to prevent further unrest.

Rev. Andrews stressed the need for stringent gun-control measures and urged political parties to resolve their differences through peaceful means, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace during the electoral process.

“I appeal to the President and even Parliament to pass a law to retrieve all guns, except those of the military. We do not want anyone to go to the polling station wielding guns on December 7. This election should be peaceful, and one of the ways to ensure that is to make sure that people do not get access to guns,” Rev. Andrews stated.

He condemned the violence witnessed during the ongoing limited voter registration exercise, particularly citing an incident in Kukuom, Ahafo Region, where one person was injured.

Rev. Andrews called on all political parties and stakeholders to exercise restraint and adhere to the rules governing the registration exercise to prevent further disturbances.

The Ghana Police Service has also condemned the violent incidents at some registration centers and assured the public that they are taking necessary measures to maintain law and order during the registration process.

“The police would like to remind the public that the registration exercise is a civic responsibility that must be attended to in a civil manner. It is in this regard that we would like to caution the public to exercise maximum restraint and act in accordance with the laws governing the registration process,” the police stated in a press release.