National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons pushes for new firearms law

The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons is urging quick action. They want a long-overdue firearms control law passed soon. This law aims to update Ghana’s outdated legal framework, which is over fifty years old.

Dr. Adam Adamu Alhassan Bonaa, the Commission’s Executive Secretary, spoke about this issue. He noted that current laws on arms dealership are obsolete. They cannot effectively address modern threats like 3D-printed weapons and online arms sales.

During a five-day international workshop on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in Accra, he shared important updates. A draft firearms bill has been in development for eight years. It is expected to be presented to Parliament this year.

He highlighted that the constitution is about 32 years old and under review. However, the firearms law guiding regulations is over 50 years old. “We cannot deal with advanced threats using outdated laws,” he stated.

He warned that failing to pass a modern firearms law weakens efforts against arms diversion and fake end-user certificates. These issues contribute to insecurity in parts of West Africa.

The Commission believes passing the new law will strengthen Ghana's compliance with international treaties. It will also help reinforce Ghana's reputation as an “oasis of peace” in a volatile region.