The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons says it has launched efforts to trace the thousands of rounds of ammunition missing from the Ghana Armed Forces’ inventory, as officials suspect possible theft or diversion.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Adam Bonaa, says the situation is alarming and could pose a significant national and regional security threat.
“It could be diversion, it could be theft — or it could be all of the above,” he stated in an interview with 3news on July 22.
Dr. Bonaa confirmed that the Commission is collaborating with other security agencies to trace the movement of the ammunition and bring the perpetrators to book.
“There is an established protocol on how ammunition is stored. Ammunition is consumable, but its movement is traceable,” he explained, adding that the Commission remains focused on ensuring such arms do not fall into the wrong hands.
The development follows Defence Minister Dr. Omane Boamah’s disclosure of an “irregular transfer” of ammunition in 2024, which remains unaccounted for.
Dr. Adam Bonaa, expressed worry that the missing military ammunition is sparking concern far beyond its borders, with neighboring countries reaching out over fears of possible diversion and cross-border insecurity.
Following Defence Minister Dr. Omane Boamah’s revelation that thousands of rounds of ammunition transferred to the National Security Secretariat in 2024 remain unaccounted for, Dr. Bonaa says the situation is now drawing international attention.
“We’ve received numerous calls from our sub-regional neighbours and across the continent, asking serious questions about a possible diversion,” he stated.
He warned that the delicate nature of the issue demands a broader security collaboration beyond Ghana’s jurisdiction.
“The sub-region is already chaotic. We cannot afford to overlook the possibility of these ammunitions ending up in the wrong hands,” he cautioned.
While acknowledging the difficulty of tracing lost ammunition, Dr. Bonaa said his Commission is working with other security agencies to investigate and identify those behind the irregular transfer.
