The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has cautioned against wielding of firearms at polling stations on December 7.
According to the Commission, voters must adhere to the one hundred-meter distance from the polling stations directive announced by the police.
Addressing the media after paying a courtesy call on the National Chief Imam, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Jones Borteye Applerh said licensed firearm bearers must also desist from going to the polling stations with their weapons.
“I am calling on the macho men and the vigilante groups and the youth that the election polling station is a security zone. You don’t have to go and misbehave there and even if you are a licensed firearm bearer, you are not allowed to take your firearm to a polling station.”
“As a matter of fact, it is against the law for you to display or fire your gun or firearm in public and a polling station is a public place. So if you are not a security personnel do not take your firearm to the polling station.”
4,098 hotspots identified for election violence
The Commission had earlier said over 4,000 hotspots had been identified for election violence.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Jones Applerh, at the launch of the Commission’s ‘Ballot without bullets’ campaign aimed at achieving zero gun violence in the general election said the commission is committed to ensuring peaceful polls by curbing the influx of illegal arms.
“Data from Police showed that 4,098 hotspots have been identified across the country. Regions with the highest hotspots include Ashanti with 635 flashpoints, 537 in Central, 405 in Eastern Region, and 323 in Western. The porous nature of our borders has been a major source of the illicit flow of arms into our country. ”
