Nandom: Naa Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle Chiir VIII, Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area, has endorsed the swift passage of the National Small Arms Bill 2023. He has also commended the West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA Ghana) for its efforts towards the bill's passage. The bill aims to regulate the possession, manufacture, and sale of small arms, thereby reducing the risk of armed violence and promoting a culture of peace.
According to Ghana News Agency, Naa Prof. Delle Chiir VIII expressed concern about the proliferation of small arms in Ghana, which he affirmed poses a significant threat to national security, public safety, and sustainable development. He commended WAANSA Ghana and other partners, including the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, who is managing the Saving Lives Entity Fund Project (SALIENT). The SALIENT Fund project is being implemented through UN Agencies (UNDP and UNODC) in collaboration with WAANSA Ghana, the National Commission for Small Arms, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) to integrate small arms control into development frameworks.
The Nandom King, an acclaimed statesman, emphasized the necessity for traditional rulers to join forces with WAANSA Ghana in advocating for the passage of the bill. During a discussion with Mr. Francis Ameyibor, WAANSA Ghana/UNDP SALIENT Fund Project Coordinator and Facilitator, Naa Prof. Delle Chiir VIII, who is also a dermatologist, called on traditional rulers to play pivotal roles in advocacy. He urged them to leverage their influence and credibility to mobilize support from key stakeholders, including parliamentarians, civil society organizations, and local communities.
Naa Prof. Delle Chiir VIII noted that traditional rulers in Ghanaian society command respect and trust from their subjects. He highlighted their unique platform to amplify the importance of the National Small Arms Bill, reaching a wider audience and generating momentum for its passage. He added that WAANSA Ghana's efforts to engage traditional rulers and other stakeholders, such as the media and duty bearers, could lend credibility to the advocacy efforts, helping to build trust and confidence among key stakeholders.
He called on traditional rulers to mobilize their subjects and local communities to support the passage of the National Small Arms Bill by creating a groundswell of demand for action. Mr. Ameyibor explained that to address the proliferation of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition in Ghana and the ECOWAS sub-region, Ghana has commenced implementing interventions. He noted the illicit trafficking of small arms, light weapons, and improvised explosive devices within the volatile security situation in the Sahel and neighboring countries under the SALIENT Project.
Mr. Ameyibor explained that the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) Fund is a United Nations funding facility located within the Peacebuilding Fund, dedicated to supporting states in tackling armed violence and illicit small arms as part of a comprehensive approach to sustainable security and development. He emphasized that SALIENT responds to the multi-faceted nature of the illicit proliferation of small arms and addresses the root causes of armed violence. WAANSA-Ghana has been given an exclusive role under the SALIENT Fund Project to lead in advocacy for urgent legal reforms on small arms in Ghana law.
According to Mr. Ameyibor, this role ensures a proper understanding of proposed national legislation, policies, and regulation reviews to align with existing international, regional, and sub-regional instruments among various national stakeholders in Ghana. He noted that the role played by CSOs under the project requires an adequate understanding of the duty bearers' role in national small arms and light weapons legislation, policies, and regulations. This understanding is crucial for enhancing their capacity in alignment with existing international, regional, and sub-regional instruments.
