Ghana has taken a prominent spot in the illegal arms and explosives pipeline within West Africa, according to findings from the 2025 Global Organised Crime Index. The comprehensive study warns that the nation has turned into a primary supply point for commercial explosives driving ongoing insurgencies and violent clashes across neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali.
The escalating illicit weapons trade now presents a “notable and growing problem” for the country, with Accra and Kumasi functioning as the main trading grounds for undocumented arms.
Kumasi has cemented its place as a major hub for illicit gunsmithing, powered by experienced local artisans who construct firearms at relatively low operational costs. High profit margins, driven by cheap supplies and strong market rates, continue to fuel the proliferation of local manufacturing.
“The availability of affordable raw materials and attractive retail prices make gun manufacturing a highly profitable venture,” the report says.
The market dynamics surrounding these weapons have shifted significantly. Where demand was once confined to traditional hunting communities and local poachers, violent crime spikes across rural areas and city centres are driving widespread panic, pushing everyday citizens to seek firearms for personal security and protection of livelihoods.
Underpinning this expansion are sophisticated syndicate networks operating both internally and across national boundaries. These syndicates act as middlemen, bridging the gap between foreign arms traffickers and domestic buyers. The fluid movement of contraband across Ghanaian borders highlights the deeply entrenched regional dimensions of the illicit market.
Beyond weaponry and explosive materials, the index exposes Ghana’s ongoing struggle with smuggled counterfeit goods, pointing to a massive saturation of unsafe products. Major commerce zones across the capital feel the strain, with Makola Market flagged as a major centre for fake textiles, while Abossey Okai continues to contend with non-compliant auto spare parts. Falsified pharmaceuticals remain a persistent public health hazard, while an overwhelming majority of electrical components retailed in Accra fail basic safety checks.
Investigations linked to the report indicate that the vast majority of these sub-standard and counterfeit items originate in China before making their way into West African supply chains via the Port of Tema.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana