Police takes actions against firing of guns at events
Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Juliana Obeng has disclosed that the police has launched an investigation into the indiscriminate use of firearms by some members of the public, some of which have led to the loss of lives.
The Police Administration says the firing of guns and the mounting of roadblocks in communities during the celebration of events are banned and perpetrators of such activities would be picked up and imprisoned.
These events include festivals, weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies, engagements, and parties.
The warning is coming on the back of a recent, event where stray bullets were fired indiscriminately into the air by civilians at a wedding ceremony at Nima and a festival at Awutu Beraku in the Central Region, leading to the death of a 22-year-old woman and a young boy of 9 years old respectively.
Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Juliana Obeng has disclosed that the police has launched an investigation into the indiscriminate use of firearms by some members of the public, some of which have led to the loss of lives.
According to her “we are seeking the support of the communities. We are driving home the fact that we will not entertain unnecessary shootings during these events. It doesn’t only happen at marriage ceremonies, but also in some areas during outdooring and festivals. So now the command has adopted a strategy and we noticed that usually when they are going to do this they mount roadblocks so we have given attention to the municipalities and have said that if anybody does this inform the command and they will be arrested”.
She told Alfred Ocansey, Host of the Sunrise Morning show on 3FM 92.7 FM on Wednesday. While warning that persons engaged in indiscriminate firing would be made to face the full rigors of the law, the police has also hired the services of informants.
“The other thing we are doing is the engagement of new informants in the communities to help us with information and we are entreating the communities to help us with information. These are the same people we are living with. So people should volunteer information. If you don’t want to speak to the police in the community, you can move to a district level to a regional level and we will pick it up from there”. She noted.
Meanwhile, the police have hinted at an ongoing discussion to determine whether residents who fire at night to ward off criminals can do so or otherwise.
