Conference on arms control opens in Ghana

A three-day conference on Civil Society Consultation on the ECOWAS moratorium beyond the UN 2201 conference opened in Accra with a call on African non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society groupings to dialogue and present a common voice at the world forum.

Mr Edward Martey Akita, Deputy Minister of Defence, who made the call also urged West African governments to encourage and facilitate tangible programmes in the sub-region to control the menace of small arms.

The moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of light weapons seek to ensure a control mechanism within the sub-region on small arms usage and marketing.

The code of conduct signed in December 1999, in Togo by 16 West African Heads of States and governments deals with issues such as ammunition and its components, peace operation weapon register, dialogue with suppliers and producers, intra and inter state co-operation and enhancing border control.

Mr Akita said over the past 20 years, armed conflicts had led to the killing of two million children, disabled over four million people, while 12 million had been made homeless.

He said, "as a result of these conflicts, one million children have either been orphaned or separated from their parents, while ten million other war victims are still traumatised with very little hope of living normal lives once again."

The conference is being jointly organised by African Security Dialogue and Research, Foundation for Security and Development in African and Programme of Co-ordination and Assistance for Development.

It has attracted participants from civil society groups in the sub-region and would also serve as a preparatory meeting towards the United Nations Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons scheduled for New York in July.

Mr Akita noted that the proliferation of small arms could not be controlled from one single country and suggested a systems approach to handle hot spots in the sub-region.

He cited the Sierra Leone situation, which he said could not be dealt with as an isolated case as it has its rippling effects in Guinea.

Mr Akita expressed dissatisfaction about the destabilising impact of the illicit flow of small arms despite the genuine concern shown by both governments and civil society.

The minister stated that proliferation of small arms has led to an upsurge in armed robbery and noted that the government was committed to combating the situation.

He said the government initiated a move to collect over 40,000 illicit small arms in private hands, because "any single small arms in an illegal hands is a threat to society as a whole".

As part of the Accra Conference, the Ghana Armed Forces mounted an exhibition of weapons, which ranged from M16 A2 Assault Rifle, Light Machine Gun, 84 Millimetre Anti Tank Gun, Locally Manufactured shotguns, Sub Machine Guns and G3 Rifles.

The rest were Man Portable Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Tank Missiles, Small Calibre Mortars, Hand and Rocket Propelled Grenades.