Small Arms Commission partners with foreign agencies to combat illicit arms trade

The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons is stepping up efforts. They are working with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, INTERPOL, and other agencies. Their goal is to combat the rising illicit trade in small arms in West Africa.

At a meeting in Accra, Ghana’s Interior Minister, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, spoke about the threat of illegal arms. He warned that these weapons undermine national and regional security.

“The spread of illicit arms is a regional crisis,” Minister Muntaka said. He emphasized the need for a coordinated response across Africa. He urged neighboring countries to improve intelligence-sharing and enforcement strategies.

The Minister noted ongoing challenges, especially the lack of reliable data on illicit arms movement. “Our greatest challenge is the absence of dependable data,” he stated. Recent seizures indicate that arms trafficking is increasing rapidly.

Dr. Adam Alhassan Adamu Bonaa, Acting CEO of the National Commission, stressed collaboration's importance. “These gatherings aim to build consensus and identify best approaches,” he explained. He highlighted the need for state actors to implement effective strategies against illicit arms flow.

The meeting ended with a commitment to strengthen regional cooperation. Participants agreed to improve surveillance systems and create centralized databases for monitoring arms flows.

All agencies pledged to enhance coordination and support national initiatives for arms control and disarmament. This effort comes at a crucial time for West Africa, where armed conflict and organized crime are fueled by illicit weapons circulation.