Dr. Adam Bonaa, Acting Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, has condemned the misuse of firearms during the celebration of the Fire Festival (Bugum Chugu) in Bimbilla, which resulted in the death of a student on Saturday, July 5.
The deceased, Fatima, a student of Bimbilla Senior High School, was fatally struck in the neck by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a celebrant using a small arm. Her body has since been deposited at the hospital morgue.
Despite prior warnings from the Commission and the Municipal Security Council, the festival was marred by widespread gunfire and the use of explosives. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes, with celebrants discharging firearms openly in public, ignoring safety advisories.
In an interview on Channel One Newsroom with Charles Owusu Kumi, Dr. Bonaa expressed disappointment that calls for restraint were disregarded.
“We saw the need to caution the celebrants, those who were going to take part in the festive celebration. Festivals have been part of us for centuries, and no one can say there shouldn’t be festivals. But of course, we needed to caution the celebrants to be cautious…We have had a series of these events, either leading to injuries or deaths.
“Therefore, we needed to caution, but unfortunately, it looks like that fell on deaf ears,” he said.
Dr. Bonaa noted that many of the weapons used during the celebration were unlicensed and illegal under Ghanaian law. He described the use of live ammunition during festivals as both “needless” and dangerous, questioning why such practices persist despite repeated tragedies.
“Most of the celebrants used weapons that are not permissible at all, that you can’t even license in this country and fired them indiscriminately… It is needless, why do you shoot with a live armour that has pellets during festivals?” he asked.
He further stressed the need for tighter firearm regulation, warning that the current legal framework is inadequate and contributing to the proliferation of small arms. Of particular concern, he noted, is the growing access to weapons by students.
“We have a Bill at the ministerial level that is currently pending to be sent to the cabinet and eventually to Parliament to be promulgated into law. At the moment, there isn’t a clear-cut regulator when it comes to firearms. And so, every Tom, Dick and Harry, children in Senior High Schools, are stealing their parents’ side arms to schools,” he said.
Dr. Bonaa reiterated the importance of fostering a national culture of safety and responsibility around firearms. He said the Commission continues to roll out sensitisation campaigns to discourage the use of live ammunition during festivals and encourage safer forms of celebration.
Authorities are expected to launch investigations into the incident, as public calls grow louder for reform and stricter enforcement in the wake of Fatima’s tragic death.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
