Josiah
The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has revealed that around 1.1 million small arms and light weapons currently in circulation within the country cannot be accurately traced or documented.
As per the commission, this unaccounted-for weapons figure, constituting part of the total 2.3 million currently in circulation, poses a substantial threat to the security of the nation.
During discussions at 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, highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at reducing the proliferation of these arms.
Asumani stated, “Presently, we have 2.3 million small and light weapons in circulation, with 1.2 million being legally registered. However, the remaining 1.1 million cannot be tracked, prompting the commission to seek funding for assessing the extent of proliferation in the system. We are dealing with various types of weapons, including AK47s, pistols, pump-action guns, and locally manufactured guns.”
In a related development, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia urged countries such as Libya, Egypt, and Morocco to work towards ratifying the convention banning anti-personnel mines. This, he emphasized, is crucial to preventing the humanitarian consequences associated with these mines.
