Gun-related violence surged sharply across Ghana in the first quarter of 2025, with 53 incidents recorded, compared to 15 during the same period in 2024.

This represents a 253.3 per cent increase, according to the First Quarter Open-Source Gun Incidence (OGI) Report released by the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

The Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of incidents, followed by the North East and Northern Regions, indicating emerging hotspots of gun-related violence.

The report identifies armed robbery, violent confrontations, and chieftaincy disputes as the primary drivers of gun- related incidents, jointly accounting for over 60 per cent of all cases.

Gun violence was reported in 15 out of 16 regions during the review period, up from nine regions in the same quarter of 2024-signalling a concerning expansion in geographic spread.
Males were the most affected demographic, comprising 59 per cent of perpetrators and 67 per cent of victims. A total of 72 deaths were recorded, 64 of whom were men.

The data also pointed to a rise in other forms of gun-related violence, such as land disputes, indiscriminate shootings, and celebratory gunfire-highlighting broader misuse of firearms beyond organised crime.

Particularly alarming was the finding that 54 per cent of weapons recovered from crime scenes were unidentified, severely hampering arms tracing efforts and effective law enforcement.

The Commission said the findings reinforced the need for the immediate passage of the Draft National Arms Bill into law to strengthen the legal framework for arms control and enhance public safety.
It thus urged Parliament, civil society organisations, and all relevant stakeholders to support swift legislative action to counter the escalating threat of gun violence.