The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSALW) has declared the upcoming Akwatia Constituency by-elections a “no-go area” for any form of weapon.
In a public notice dated August 24, 2025, the commission strongly cautioned all political actors, party leaders, and supporters to “refrain from any actions that may incite or promote violence.”
The commission’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Adam A. Bonah, warned that the display or use of “lethal or non-lethal weapons including firearms, improvised weapons, tasers, pepper spray, knives, machetes or any instrument capable of causing harm” would not be tolerated.
He emphasized that anyone found with any form of weapon will be “promptly arrested and prosecuted.”
Dr. Bonah highlighted the vulnerability of Ghana’s democracy to “politically motivated violence which is often fueled by inflammatory rhetoric and the unlawful possession and use of firearms.”
He urged politicians and party leaders to set a positive example by encouraging their supporters to “express their political choices peacefully and lawfully.”
The commission reiterated its commitment to supporting a peaceful election and will work in close collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, the Electoral Commission, and other partners to monitor the by-elections.
The notice concludes with a call to all stakeholders to prioritize peace, respect the rule of law, and ensure Ghana remains a “safe and secure nation before, during and after the Akwatia by-elections.”
