The data shows that a total of 53-gun violence incidents were recorded across the country
The Ashanti Region has emerged as the epicenter of gun violence in Ghana for the first quarter of 2025, according to the latest report from the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
The Commission’s monitoring of violent incidents between January and March 2025 revealed a sharp rise in gun-related crimes, signaling growing concerns over national security and public safety.
The data shows that a total of 53-gun violence incidents were recorded across the country during this period, marking a significant increase of 253.3% compared to the same quarter in 2024, which recorded just 15 cases.
When compared to the last quarter of 2024, where 47 incidents were reported, the first quarter of 2025 reflects a slower yet continued upward trend in gun violence.
The Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of incidents, rising from 3 cases in the first quarter of 2024 to 12 cases in the first quarter of 2025.
The North East and Northern regions also experienced notable surges in gun-related crimes.
“Gun-related incidents in Ghana increased sharply from 15 cases in 9 regions in the first quarter of 2024 to 53 cases across 16 regions in first quarter 2025, representing a 253.3% overall rise.
“The Ashanti Region saw the highest jump (from 3 to 12 cases), while several regions, including North East, Northern, Volta, and Greater Accra reported incidents for the first time.
“Only Upper East, Central, and Western regions recorded no change, and Upper West remained incident-free. This surge indicates both a rise in frequency and wider geographic spread, signaling an urgent need for targeted national intervention. The Western region, Bono East region, and Eastern recorded 1 incident each making 2% respectively,” part of the report said.
In total, gun violence was reported in 15 out of Ghana’s 16 regions, compared to just 9 regions during the same period last year. The only region that remained incident-free was Upper West.
The report categorises the country into three zones based on the concentration of incidents:
• Middle Zone: Contributed 45% of total cases
• Northern Zone: Accounted for 38%
• Coastal Zone: Represented 17%
The leading causes of gun violence were identified as armed robbery, violent confrontations, and chieftaincy disputes, which together accounted for over 60% of reported cases.
The data also highlighted that males were predominantly both perpetrators (59%) and victims (67%) of gun violence, with men accounting for 64 out of 72 reported fatalities.
According to the report, a total of 33 firearms were recovered at crime scenes during the first quarter of 2025.
Among them were:
• 10 empty shells of AAA cartridges (14%)
• 7 pistols (10%)
• 5 pump-action guns (7%)
• Locally manufactured guns and explosives (4% each)
However, a significant challenge persists: 54% of weapons recovered were unidentified.
Read the full report below:
AM/MA
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