Ghanaian Action Network on Small Arms holds action week

Ghana small arms awareness week, 14-18 February 2005
1. Tamale Meeting
2. Forum
3. Schoolchildren march

Small arms have had devastating consequences in Ghana’s Northern
Region. In March 2002, the King of Dagbon was assassinated and forty others
were murdered.

The Ghanaian Action Network on Small Arms (GHANSA) launched a
Week of Action against the illicit proliferation of small arms and light
weapons on 14 of February 2005. The launch ceremony in the Northern Regional
capital, Tamale, attracted some Northern Region Members of Parliament,
security persons, traditional rulers, religious leaders, students, youth
groups, youth chiefs and opinion leaders among others.

In her presentation the Associate Director of FOSDA, Afi Yakubu,
argued that among the factors that fuel arms proliferation are weak
stockpile management, post colonial or cold war remnants, movement of
refugees/ dominance of refugee camps by armed groups, military coups and
undemocratic electoral processes.

In a message from the Northern Caucus in the Ghanaian Parliament
read by the Caucus Leader, Honourable Amadu Seidu described the gradual
militarisation of Northern Ghana, an unfortunate situation in the 21st
Century when the world is engaged in development. He pointed out that the
proliferation of small arms in the Northern Region in particular has been an
issue of grave concern over which they are cannot be proud. He cited the
tensions in Bawku, Bimbilla, Bongo, Dagbon, Nandom, Zare, Zuarungu and other
simmering conflicts which all pose a challenge to security and peace.

“locally made arms are contributing to their proliferation”

The Leader of Northern Caucus underscored the fact that while
Ghana officially does not manufacture weapons, locally made arms are
contributing to their proliferation, and called for stronger response from
Government, Parliament and civil society. He reiterated that, “as opinion
leaders who deal with every administrative issue of society, we share the
sentiments of FOSDA on small arms proliferation in the North. It is our hope
that the objectives and philosophy of FOSDA will find space in the hearts of
men and women who cherish peace, unity and development.”

1. Tamale Meeting

In an address to the participants at the launch at the Teachers
Hall in Tamale, the Northern Regional Minister urged all stakeholders,
especially the youth of Tamale and Yendi where the incidence of gun violence
is rampant. to be wary of those who would use them as bait to perpetrate
violence in the area. He urged them to rather channel their energies to
education and useful ventures.

He told the participants that small arms are “tools of death”
that have facilitated the destruction of many human lives, displacement of
people, poverty and misery among others in West Africa. He emphasised that
arms race breeds animosity and suspicion and concluded that, “when the
proliferation of small arms are brought under control, the pace of
development which we are genuinely yearning for will manifest itself in more
projects in the districts."

“say no to any form of investment in small arms”

In a Keynote address to the participants at the launch of the
proliferation of SALW Awareness Week, the President of the Northern Region
House of Chiefs, Nayire Na Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga stated that the
highways are no longer safe and described the horrific scenes and stories
which are told about and the trauma passengers go through when they are
ambushed midstream by armed robbers. He observed that bandits are now
invading the rural communities that have hitherto been safe havens.

He also indicated that our homes are not safer either and that
all should say no to any form of investment in small arms and light weapons
but say yes to the campaign against the proliferation of these weapons.

“some illicit arms in circulation are from [security agency’s]
armoury”

The President of the Northern Region House of Chiefs also
exhorted the general public to report to the police, chiefs and community
leaders to flush out people who only profit at the peril of others. He
called on members of the security agencies to be more vigilant and
patriotic. He underscored the fact that, some of the illicit arms in
circulation are from their armoury. He urged the security agencies to keep
proper inventory of their ammunitions and also take very stringent
disciplinary actions against culpable officers.

The President of the Northern Region House of Chiefs reiterated
that the proliferation of SALW only removes peace, joy and life and leaves
the communities in a perpetual cycle of poverty and hopelessness and
insisted that chiefs and all peace loving people in Northern Ghana and Ghana
at large must collaborate to find ways and means of nipping in the bud this
menace. He stated that the conflict situation that engulfed northern Ghana
in particular in the past is unfortunate and that chiefs would be saddened
to see the threat of such conflicts gain root again and that “we need more
tools for our farms, not weapons.”

2. Forum

As part of the activities of the Week of Action, a debate in
schools was organised.

Honourable Umar Abdul-Razak, MP for Tolon Constituency who
presented a paper on the topic Youth, Politics and Small Arms added that
since the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, their main
preoccupation should be to channel their energies to education but not arms
which only bring about destruction and a bleak future. In a society where
arms are proliferated, with the least provocation, youth easily resort to
armed violence.

Mr. Mohammed Amin Anta who also presented a paper on the topic
the Impact of Armed Conflict on Development alluded to the fact that violent
armed conflicts have been unnecessary and have led to catastrophic consequen
ces. He reiterated that some societies have been wiped out as a result of
armed conflicts.

“the economic costs of conflict are immeasurable”

Mr. Mohammed Amin Anta informed the participants at the forum
that, it is on record that, the proportion of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP
devoted to military spending between 1960 and 1994 rose from 0.7% to 2.9%
and that the region’s spending on arms is about US $ 11 Billion.

He concluded that the economic costs of conflicts are
immeasurable and that in conflict areas, poverty sucks the energies of the
people, malnutrition maims children, illiteracy darkens their minds and
forecloses their future. He called on all stakeholders to take interest in
ensuring effective conflict prevention, management and resolution.

3. Schoolchildren march

In a route march on the principal streets of Yendi, over 500
school children and their teachers took part. In an address, the District
Chief Executive of Yendi told the gathering after the route march that where
there is armed conflict development suffers.

The Yendi District Commander of Police urged members of the
general public to give up their arms voluntarily before a house-to-house
search is conducted in Yendi. He told the gathering that culprits would be
prosecuted in the law court when caught with arms in their possession during
the search exercise.

Mr. Kofi Bruno, the Information Officer of FOSDA informed the
gathering after the route march that FOSDA has embarked on the sensitisation
programme against the proliferation of illicit SALW because of the peculiar
nature of Yendi and for that matter Dagbon in general. He urged the general
public to surrender their arms to the security agencies to avoid been
prosecuted.

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