The West African Network for Peace Building (WANEP), has warned that West African countries will lose the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, if integrated approaches are not instituted to deal with cross border issues.
According to WANEP, countries must tighten security at their international borders, regulate the local production of small arms and deploy diplomatic tactics in dealing with nations that produce the arms that are smuggled into the country.
[contextly_sidebar id=”hFOustTExQ4NMeUDav4rHiiNHmFGeJQx”]Speaking at a program to observe the United Nations day of weapons, the Executive Director for WANEP, Chukwuemeka Eze, said dealing with small arms issues requires the cooperation of all relevant institutions in the sub-region.
“Unless and until integrated sub-regional approaches are instituted to deal with cross border issues, small arms proliferation and light weapons problems will remain a constant threat in West Africa,” he stated.
Mr. Eze also said the nations known for producing arms should play their part in efforts aimed at dealing with the proliferation of illicit arms.
According to him,“While ECOWAS and the African Union must take the lead to address the porosity of borders, the international community and especially those that produce guns that find their way into our continent, should also take full responsibility.”
1.1 million ilicit weapons in Ghana
About 1.1 million unlicensed weapons are said to be in the possession of civilians in Ghana, the Minister for the Interior, Prosper Douglas Bani, has said.
According to him, out of the 2.3 million weapons circulating in the country, only 1.2 million have been captured on the police database.
Mr. Bani has also cautioned that these weapons, which have not been captured on the Police database, might end up in the hands of rascals, who might use it for criminal activities, terrorize society and ignite communal violence.
Illicit weapons destroyed
The Interior Ministry recently destroyed over 1000 illicit weapons at an event organised by the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA).
The weapons destroyed included AK 47 assault rifles, G3, double barreled shotguns, local mortars, hummer, simplex, Baikal guns, locally manufactured pistols, spears, bows and arrows.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana