Introducing a Regulatory Regime to Control Guns in Ghana – CDS to the Government

General News on Thursday, May 23, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-05-23

The Center for Defense and Security is calling on the government to put in place a comprehensive system of regulatory control of firearms movements in the country.

According to the CDS, this initiative will help clean up the system of all potential dangers badociated with inappropriate handling of small arms and promote effective control of the movement and possession of weapons in the country.

The Defense and Security Center, in a statement signed by Executive Director Yaro Kasambata, also wants the government to review Ghana's existing small arms and light weapons laws to reflect international conventions and treaties.

"The government should put in place a comprehensive regulatory regime for the import, storage, distribution, retail sale of firearms and the possession of firearms by small arms. This regulatory regime should include provisions such as a regulator to guarantee small arms import licenses, licensing criteria, licenses for the distribution and retail sale of arms. light weapons and ammunition in Ghana. "

Among other things, the Center for Defense and Security advocates for the revision of the mandate of the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms, from its current status as an advisory body to a regulatory body.

"Firearms should be restricted from an approved importer to an authorized distributor or dealer and then to a competent and licensed owner under the strict control of the regulatory authority. In addition, revise the mandate of Ghana's National Small Arms Commission, which is currently an advisory body for a regulatory body to oversee the supply chain activities of the small arms and light weapons industry. ammunition. "

"The government should also review existing laws on small arms and ammunition in Ghana to reflect international conventions and treaties that Ghana has signed. This will promote effective surveillance and reliable data on the movement, possession and possession of firearms in Ghana. "

The statement from the Center for Defense and Security follows a recent statement by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which warns that the Akufo-Addo government has allowed the import of weapons at a time when the country was struggling. the threat of terrorism.

But the government said it could confirm that the Mahama administration under the authority of the NDC had instead issued the weapons import license before leaving office in January 2017.

"It is curious that after the 2016 elections, two days pbaded on January 5th. [2017] At one point in the transition, this license was issued to everyone's blind, "said Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

The minister, however, said the lot was coming; it was duly inspected in accordance with normal practice and delivered to a designated storage area.

"State security agencies ensure that the shipment does not fall into the hands of unauthorized persons," he added.

Trade between NDC and NDC on unhealthy imported weapons – Adam Bona

Adam Bona, a security badyst, also called last week for a quick resolution of the problems badociated with importing a large cache of weapons in the country.

He thinks that a meeting should be organized to determine whether firearms should be allowed to enter the market or whether they should be diverted from the public's attention.

Addressing Citi News, Adam Bonaa said the trade of the charges was unhealthy.

"It should not have entered the public domain. I think it was because the opposition had probably reacted and the government in power had to clarify things. We talk about lethal weapons and for security reasons; it's not all the details that have to come out. "

"So, for me, I think that they have to stop public discussion and sit down and have some form of dialogue or communication with those who have carried the guns, because that has implications for our security, "he added.