The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons recently revealed a concerning statistic: approximately 1.1 million small arms and light weapons within the country cannot be properly traced or accounted for. This revelation, out of a total of 2.3 million currently in circulation, poses a significant threat to the nation’s security.
During a regional conference addressing the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personal mines, Frank Boateng Asumani, the Head of the National Arms Marking Programme at the commission, emphasized the ongoing efforts to minimize the proliferation of these unaccounted-for arms. He stated, “Currently, we have 2.3 million small and light weapons in circulation, out of which 1.2 million are legally registered and the remaining 1.1 million cannot be accounted for. The commission is currently seeking funding to assess the level of proliferation within the system. These unaccounted-for weapons include AK47s, pistols, pump-action guns, and locally manufactured guns.”
In light of this revelation, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called upon countries such as Libya, Egypt, and Morocco to prioritize the ratification of the convention banning anti-personnel mines. This is a crucial step towards averting the humanitarian consequences caused by these weapons.
The circulation of unaccounted-for small arms and light weapons poses a grave threat to national security and stability. It is imperative for all relevant stakeholders to collaborate in addressing this issue and preventing further proliferation. The commitment of resources and international cooperation is essential in tackling this pressing concern.
-source citinewsroom | curated by Aisha Yakubu | Ghana Crimes
