As all attention of Ghanaians is currently focused on Coronavirus and its related issues, Professor Elias N. K. Sowley, Chairman of the National Catholic Laity Council in Ghana, is calling on the government through its State Security Agencies to develop a robust mechanism for monitoring the inflows of arms in the country.
In a message read on his behalf by Mr. Timothy Sowah, the newly installed Accra Archdiocesan Chairman of Laity at the recent launch of “silencing the Guns” campaign in Accra, Prof. Sowley, suggested that the registration of guns should be done within a stipulated period after which sporadic searches should be conducted and all unlicensed guns ceased.
He lamented that in recent times, there have been reports in the media of a lot of arms have been found in the country through private individuals and security agencies.
According to him “It is emerging that those private individuals have sophisticated weapons than that of the state security agencies. This is evidenced by the rising incidence of crime some of which are committed with sophisticated weapons.”
The “Silencing the Guns” campaign launch under the auspices of the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA) and Lead Magis Africa and the Jesuit inspired Ignatian Youth Networks for Intergenerational Outcomes (IYNIGO).
Dubbed: “Silencing the Guns by 2020: I want to grow old,” it is aimed at getting rid of illegally acquired weapons in Ghana and Africa as well as promote prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in Africa as part of AU Agenda 2063.
It is also to enforce a just, poverty-free, peaceful, and ecologically regenerative in Africa and targets member states because the primary responsibility of providing peace and security and the overall protection of citizens lies with governments.
The Laity Chairman observed that the rising crime rate has compelled individuals and groups to acquire weapons legally or illegally, expressing worry that “most of the illegally acquired weapons are imported through unapproved routes from neighbouring countries. These are used during ethnic conflicts or commit crimes such as robbery.”
He stated that even though the Police have often encouraged civilians to license their weapons, many were unwilling because they had acquired them illegally, stating that “this state of affairs has caused many Ghanaians to live in fear.”
Prof. Sowley suggested that “Citizens who own guns whether legally or illegally should be encouraged to register them without penalties particularly in the case of illegally acquired one.”
He said the owners of such guns should also be prosecuted to serve as deterrents… and those who have been licensed to use guns should be given some basic training on the safe handling of these dangerous weapons.”
He proposed that Security operatives who are able to find and cease large caches of arms should be rewarded appropriately while their civilian counterparts who provide tip-offs should also be motivated.
Prof. Sowley called on civil and religious organisation as well as other advocacy groups should be encouraged to educate citizens on the dangers associated with weapons.
In a similar message, Major General Peter C.N. Sangber-Dery and Noble Sister Eugenia Ekua Enyimayew, Supreme Subordinate Commandery President and Supreme Subordinate Auxiliary President of the Knights and Ladies Auxiliary of St. John International, commended the campaigners, saying that “we stand firmly with you in the quest to “silence the guns” so that we can all enjoy real peace in Africa, and make it possible for better standard of living for the people of Africa.”
“We urge everyone who gets to know of this important launch to himself/herself be an agent of change, and also help spread the good message to as many people as possible, so that the noble objective of “Silencing the Guns” can be achieved soonest,” they added.
The Leaders of the Semi-Military organisation said “We see your effort as good, timely, and appropriate, as it would add to create the necessary awareness in people and draw their minds and attention towards working as individuals, or in the collective with others, towards achieving a further reduction in the small arms and light weapons in Africa.”
According to them, the raising of awareness that could lead to a reduction in the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is itself very important, as it has been observed that the persistence and complication of wars in Africa is partially due to the proliferation of small arms.
With a continent where there is a high level of poverty among its people, they recommended that “resources that come the way of its people should be better expended on things that would improve upon the standard of living of its people rather than on items, in this case, weapons, that are used to kill and maim its people and thereby further deepening its woes in poverty.”
Staggering statistics from the internet, especially with regard to Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) show that out of about 640 million SALWs circulating globally, about 100 million are in Africa. The statistics further show that about 30 million of this number are in sub-Saharan Africa, with 8 million of that in West Africa alone.
The statistics further indicate that about 59% of these SALWs are in the hands of civilians, 38% owned by government Armed Forces, 2.8% with the Police, and 0.2% held by armed groups. Of special worry is the 59% that is in the hands of civilians, many of whom may not have any serious training in weapon handling, and also the 0.2% or the 16,000 SALWs that are in the hands of armed groups like the Boko Haram, and other political and faith based militias in the West African sub-region.
With these frightening statistics, the leadership of the Knights and Ladies of St. John International said “appears that the task is really an arduous one, especially that we are already in the AU target year (2020) by which all illegal weapons are supposed to be “silenced”.
They declared: “We see your effort as good, timely, and appropriate, as it would add to create the necessary awareness in people and draw their minds and attention towards working as individuals, or in the collective with others, towards achieving a further reduction in the small arms and light weapons in Africa.
“The creation of awareness that could lead to a reduction in the SALWs is itself very important, as it has been observed that the persistence and complication of wars in Africa are partially due to the proliferation of small arms, they added.
