The Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has cautioned parents against buying toy guns for their children, warning that such toys can normalize violence and increase the risk of gun-related incidents.
The warning follows a recent incident in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region, where police seized a pump-action gun from a 15-year-old boy, leading to a confrontation that left one person dead and another injured.
Speaking in an interview, the Commission’s Deputy Director for Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Gyebi Asante, said exposing children to toy guns can create a false sense of familiarity with real firearms, with potentially deadly consequences. He urged parents to choose non-violent toys that promote healthy development.
Mr. Asante also stressed the need for responsible gun ownership, calling on licensed firearm holders to secure their weapons properly to prevent children from accessing them. He further appealed to the Ghana Police Service to strictly enforce regulations governing licensed gun dealers, ensuring firearms and ammunition are sold only to persons with valid permits and operated from approved locations.