The Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse and Dr. Adam Bonaa, Acting Executive Secretary of NACSA
In the wake of the tragic shooting that claimed the life of the Queen Mother of the Ga-Dangme Muslim Union (Nungua West), Dr. Adam Bonaa, Acting Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA), led a delegation to visit the Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse, High Priest of the Nungua Traditional Area and Spiritual Overlord of the Ga-Dangme State.
The courtesy call, made on Thursday, March 13, 2025, aimed to extend the Commission’s condolences to the Gborbu Wulomo and the Nungua Traditional State while opening discussions on enhancing collaboration with traditional authorities to promote firearm safety, legal compliance, and public awareness about the risks of firearm misuse, especially during festivals and ceremonies.
Dr. Bonaa emphasised the vital role traditional leaders play in influencing community behavior and fostering safer cultural practices.
He called for collective efforts to prevent future tragedies, noting that musketry firing, a longstanding Ghanaian tradition symbolizing honor and strength during royal and cultural events has sometimes resulted in accidental injuries and deaths, turning celebrations into periods of mourning.
The Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse warmly received NACSA’s outreach, calling it a “blessing” and commending the Commission’s proactive approach.
He revealed that this was the first time a government body had formally engaged him on firearm-related issues.
Expressing concern over the rising incidents of gun-related accidents and the use of unauthorised firearms during celebratory shootings, he condemned such practices and pledged his support for NACSA’s efforts to ensure the safety of traditional celebrations.
During the visit, the NACSA team warned the public that carrying unauthorized weapons whether registered or not to traditional events is a punishable offense that could lead to imprisonment.
Discussions focused on practical steps to curb accidental shootings and enforce compliance during cultural activities.
NACSA urged traditional leaders to restrict celebratory shootings to trained, authorized individuals using only cap guns or muskets with gunpowder.
Dr. Bonaa highlighted the urgent need for the Arms Bill to be passed into law to impose stricter controls on the proliferation of illicit small arms across the country.
“We are here to also solicit his support for the passage of the Arms Bill, which is currently pending. We have been reliably informed by the Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, that the bill is expected to be passed by May, provided everything goes well. We hope this happens so we can better regulate and retrieve firearms in circulation,” he stated.
He also announced NACSA’s plan to extend its ongoing weapon-marking initiative to firearms used in traditional celebratory shootings, starting with the Nungua Traditional State.
“Another key area where we seek his support is the marking of firearms used during such events. He has given us his blessing, and we will soon begin the process of publicly displaying and marking these weapons,” he stated.
This measure, he explained, would enhance identification, traceability, compliance, and safety.
In his closing remarks, the Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse appealed to the government to expedite the passage of the Arms Bill, emphasizing that it would empower communities to manage arms control effectively and prevent further loss of life.
“We are living in a very dangerous situation that requires collective efforts to address. If the new law clearly defines your critical role in arms regulation, we will be grateful. The police have become helpless. By law, the military has limited involvement in internal matters unless we are under attack. The police can only call for assistance when a situation escalates beyond their control—but we should not wait for that to happen. We need an institution that takes a critical look at our arms situation and collaborates with the police in the licensing and regulation of firearms,” the Wulomo stated, citing the growing threat posed by land guards and the proliferation of arms.
Background
On February 23, 2025, a tragic incident occurred during the enskinment ceremony of Lawrencia Naa Borley Nelson, also known as Naa Gamu, who was being installed as the Queen Mother of the Ga-Dangme Muslim Union (Nungua West) in Nungua, Accra.
The event, organised by the Greater Accra Council of Ga-Dangme Muslim Chiefs, Queens, and Imams under the Nungua Traditional Council, took a devastating turn when a gun was fired, striking Naa Gamu.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, she succumbed to her injuries. The shooting, initially reported as accidental, involved live ammunition discharged by a suspect, Samuel Adjei, who was later arrested and charged with murder and unlawful possession of firearms.
GA/MA