Govt urged to prioritise passage of National Arms Commission Bill
The West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) Ghana, has urged the Ministry of the Interior to prioritise the approval of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Implementation Cabinet Memo and the National Commission on Small Arms Bill, which aims to regulate the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
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The organisation said this at the end of a three-day capacity-building session for about 25 civil society organisations connected to WAANSA Ghana in Abokobi, near Accra, on a Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) project administered by the UN Systems in Ghana.
The CSOs emphasised the urgent need for the bill to be passed into law to ensure effective control and regulation of SALW.
The current gun control laws remain the weakest link in ongoing efforts to counter terrorism, money laundering and combating the proliferation of SALW in the country as acknowledged by the EU and other international organisations.
Commendation
The organisation, WAANSA Ghana, acknowledged the Minister of the Interior, Henry Quartey's, proactive approach to addressing security concerns in the country, and described the minister's commitment to protecting citizens as commendable.
It urged him to work closely with stakeholders to ensure that Cabinet Memo on Arms Trade Treaty Implementation, which the country signed and ratified some nine years ago, was approved to pave the way for the arms commission bill to be passed into law without delay.
Significance
The organisation further said that the passage of the bill into law, as well as Cabinet's approval of the Arms Trade Treaty Implementation Memoranda, was crucial in addressing the root causes of insecurity and violence in the country, including the prevention of illicit arms trade.
It highlighted the need for increased public awareness and education on the dangers of proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons.
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The organisation also called on the government to intensify collaboration with CSOs and community leaders to promote peace and security in the country, especially before, during and after the December general election.
Appreciation
The CSOs expressed appreciation to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for their commitment to supporting efforts towards the passage of the draft bill and the approval of the Arms Trade Treaty Implementation Memoranda.
Ghana is the third African country to benefit from the first phase of the SALIENT Trust Fund being spearheaded by UNODA, UNDP and the UNODC.
The SALIENT project seeks to upscale efforts towards the passage of the arms commission bill into law to provide the necessary tools and mechanisms to effectively regulate the trade, possession and transfer of small arms and light weapons.
It is being implemented in the country by WAANSA Ghana, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
The project is integrated into multisectoral platforms and initiatives that had been created over the past 20 years by UNDP and other UN bodies, highlighting the necessity of a multisectoral approach to combating armed violence, as well as the control of small arms and ammunition, among others.
