MANUFACTURE, PROLIFERATION AND USE OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS IN GHANA Presented by BAKO MOHAMMED

Presentation outline  Introduction  The Problem of SALW  Efforts to tackle the issue and why they are unsuccessful  Our Plans of Interventions  Expected outcome of our interventions  Conclusions. 29/03/13Bako Mohammed 2

INTRODUCTION  Our organization is the Public Education and Outreach Unit of the Public Affairs Department, a section of the Ghana Police Service charged with the responsibility to educate and sensitize members of the Ghanaian Public on security related issues. The Department was established in 1960 and currently has staff strength of thirty (30).  Generally, small arms are defined as “those weapons designed for personal use” and light weapons as “those weapons designed for use by several persons serving as a crew”. (SA- revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles etc, LW- heavy machine guns, launchers, missiles etc that are less than 100mm caliber). 29/03/13Bako Mohammed 3

THE PROBLEM OF SALW SOURCES OF SALW IN GHANA  Poor record keeping systems that allow pilfering of guns from armories of the security agencies.  Smuggling from other countries.  Artisanal manufacture of small arms (blacksmiths) very cheap, portable and very lethal  IMPACTS  Conflicts (internal ethnic, land and chieftaincy clashes leads to loss of lives), WA volatile region is not left out,  Armed robberies and other violent crimes- 80% of all robberies in Ghana were carried with local arms.  Atmosphere of fear and insecurity 29/03/13Bako Mohammed 4

EFFORTS/FAILURES  EFFORTS  UN programme of Action on SALW  ECOWAS Convention on SALW.  National Commission of Small arms (NCSA)  Criminal offences Act of Ghana (Act 29/60)  3 REASONS FOR THE FAILURE: Increasing in local manufacture, socio-cultural beliefs, Ineffective importation and registration policies. 29/03/13Bako Mohammed 5

OUR PLANS OF INTERVENTIONS  Advocacy- Enforcement alone has not been effective.  3. OBJECTIVES:  Objective one: To change the beliefs and practices surrounding the acquisition and use of firearms in Ghana from the position of socio- cultural and prestige to the angle of rejection of firearms as a companion by The main targets of this objective include Traditional Chiefs, Community Leaders and Youth groups.  Objective two: Divert the artisanal skills of the blacksmith manufacturers of small arms in Ghana into other income generating activities by The key targets are blacksmiths and the Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organization.  Objective three: To push for a review in the existing firearms importation and registration policies from the current state to a computerized and centralized data base that are synchronized by The main targets are the ministry of interior and the Police firearms registry department. 29/03/13Bako Mohammed 6

OUR STRATEGIES  OBJECTIVE ONE; mobilizing traditional chiefs (who are the embodiment of traditions and culture), community leaders and youth groups and engaging them to push for change in attitudes and beliefs surrounding gun acquisition will be resorted to.  OBJECTIVE TWO: Focus on mobilizing the Blacksmiths to stop the production of small arms and divert their skills to other profitable ventures-petitions, lobbying, skills acquisitions etc  OBJECTIVE THREE: The National Commission for Small Arms, The Police Service (Criminal Investigations Department) and the ministry for the interior must be pushed to review the existing laws regulating the importation and registration of firearms and also establish a computerized system that caters for importation and registration of firearms in the country ( legal and security experts to draft and push through for approval)  Campaign Creative Brief- Using audio visual and posters to prick emotions and conscience to achieve the desired change. Media extensively used. 29/03/13Bako Mohammed 7

EXPECTED OUTCOME  Drastic reduction in the number of acquisitions of firearms.  Increased production in implements such as cutlasses, hoes, chains, cooking utensils and complete stoppage in the production of arms by Blacksmiths.  Changes in the existing importation and registration policies and a computerized system for registration of firearms across the country, and also in harmony with the importation system.  All by 2016 on basis of yearly action plans 29/03/13Bako Mohammed 8

Questions? Thank you 29/03/13Bako Mohammed 9