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West Africa: Workshop
75,000 Unregistered Weapons Circulate in Ghana
It is estimated that about 75,000 unregistered weapons circulate in Ghana, summing up to 125,000 unregistered weapons and eight million Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Africa.
The wide circulation of SALW is obviously a major problem in Africa, accounting for the increase in conflicts in some parts of the continent. This unacceptable state of affairs makes compelling the need to control small arms and to enforce disarmament measures.
Both the manufacture of weapons by local blacksmiths and their importation contribute greatly to their proliferation. The results of weapons proliferation are obvious: crimes of various degrees.
As part of measures to control the circulation of weapons in the West African sub-region, a series of parliamentary workshops have been organized in Abidjan, Lome Bamako and Accra. The need for a stronger involvement of Parliamentarians in arms control is extremely important considering the role expected of key stakeholders and duty bearers in respect of Comprehensive ECOWAS Convention on SALW.
Speaking at the Accra event, the Deputy Majority leader, Hon. Rashid Pelpuo, blamed the abundance and spread of SALW on most artisans and blacksmiths who manufacture these dangerous weapons through all sorts of dubious means, and the porous nature of our borders which he said ensure a constant flow of the weapons.
He envisioned that despite the fact that many of the conflicts in the sub-region have come to an end, illicit trade in small arms is reported to be on the increase with a thriving local industry which also prevails in other countries.
He disclosed that at least each of the 400 blacksmiths in southern Ghana could manufacture up to 80 guns a year.
According to Hon. Pelpuo, Ghana conducted its first major baseline assessment of the nature of small arms in 2004 which paved way for consultative participatory process that turned the assessment report into a national action plan. But the ratification by Parliament had to wait till 5 March 2010 following cabinet's approval.
"With this ratification, government has sent a strong signal to the rest of the world of her commitment towards the fight against small arms and light weapons in the sub-region," he warned.
The five biggest suppliers of major conventional weapons between 2005-2009 worldwide were the United States of America, Russia, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The U.S. and Russia remain by far the largest exporters of SALW accounting for 30 % and 23% respectively.
The Nigerian representative of Fredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Sebastian Serpling, explained that Parliament has an important role in promoting international instruments, drafting legislation and developing administrative frameworks in respect of SALW within the region.
The two-day workshop was a collaborative effort among the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, ECOWAS and FES. Participants were from the parliaments of Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Ghana. It was held under the theme "Beyond the ECOWAS Convention: Assessing the International Dimension to Small Arms Control in West Africa."
http://www.ghanaweb.com/public_agenda/article.php?ID=14843
Source: Public Agenda; Date: 21 May 2010
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