Three held in Wa West over unlicensed guns and ammunition

Police in the Upper West Region say three men have been arrested in the Wa West District for allegedly possessing firearms and ammunition without lawful authority.

In a statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the Upper West Regional Command, officers said the arrests followed a routine patrol in the district on Monday, 3 February 2026.

Police said the patrol team later encountered a group of about five men at Goziri, near Vieri, who were said to be openly carrying single-barrelled guns and cutlasses. Officers described the situation as a threat to public safety.

The suspects attempted to flee after spotting the police vehicle, the statement said, but three were chased down and arrested. They were identified as Yahaya Samad, 27, Adams Alhassan, 37, and Yiritang Boosi, 35.

A search at the scene, police said, led to the retrieval of three single-barrelled guns, three cutlasses and 23 BB cartridges. During interrogation, the suspects allegedly admitted they did not have licences for the weapons or ammunition.

The three have been remanded into police custody by the Wa Magistrate Court, presided over by Simon Kofi Bediako, and are expected to reappear on 18 February 2026.

Police say efforts are continuing to arrest the remaining suspects who escaped.

The Upper West Regional Police Command praised the patrol team and warned people who possess firearms unlawfully to regularise their status or face enforcement action. It also urged the public to assist police with information as it works to maintain security in the region.