By William Yaw Owusu
Tuesday, 08 April 2008
A three-day workshop on how to curb the proliferation of small Arms and light weapons (SALW), in the West African sub-region has opened in Accra.
It is organised by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), it is being attended by 36 participants from the security agencies and civil society organisations in Africa.
The workshop is aimed at providing a platform for experts in the fight against the proliferation of small arms to exchange information and ideas, as well as provide them with new skills to curb the menace.
Dr. Kwesi Ennin, Head of Research, KAIPTC, in an opening address, said politicians have failed in their effort to curb the proliferation of small arms.
He said, “there are laws enacted to control the use of small arms but the politicians are lacking the political will to enforce them. These laws simply do not work”.
Dr. Ennin, who touched on the role of civil society in helping to curb the proliferation of small arms, said the problem is accounting for the high level of insecurity thereby impeding efforts at rapid development in the sub-region.
He said there are laudable international and local protocols and conventions on the proliferation of small arms but “there is always a problem in the holistic implemention after these conventions have been ratified.”
He further said that the proliferation of small arms have not been curbed simply because there is a dash between what he called the “traditional authorities” and “modern state”, adding that “different traditional groups are in control of small arms. They use it to re-enact their past and that no authority can force them to chop-off part of their historical and colonial experiences.”
Dr Ennin also said that the problem has persisted because almost all manufacturers of small arms have strong ties or connections with politicians adding “small arms are about long term family traditions”.
He said “we should soberly reflect on the dangers of the proliferation of small arms and adopt strategies to reconcile the different interest groups so as to enhance the security of the sub-region”.
He commended civil society organisations for bringing to the fore the proliferation of small arms saying ‘the issue has been on the political agenda only because civil society organisations are involved”.
David Nii Addy, Technical Advisor at GTZ, said the uncontrolled and misuse of small arms is a complex regional problem that continues to stifle efforts towards peace, sustainable development and improvements in human security.
He said the development of appropriate training programmes to enhance awareness, improve legislation, law enforcement and data collections remain future challenges.
Dr Cyrique Agnekethom, a representative from the ECOWAS Small Arms Unit, said the proliferations of small arms is a concern for the regional body adding ‘we are partnering all stakeholders to bring the menace under control”.
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