Legalising small arms: Minister of state not in support

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Legalising small arms in the country puts the country on the threshold of creating a violent society.

This also mean that the production of small arms in the country must be completely nibbed in the bud.

The Minister of State at the Interior Ministry, Nana Obiri-Boahen made these remarks when he reacted to suggestions in the media advocating for the legalisation of the production of small arms in the country.

Security experts have suggested the passage of a legislation to legalise the production of small arms in the Ghana. They believe this would enable the authorities to properly monitor the activities of the producers as well as know the volume of the “widgets” in the system.

Nana Obiri-Boahen has however quashed the idea, saying pursuing that agenda might present the country with more trouble.

“I don't think I will comply to that suggestions. It's like suggesting that a lot of people are taking in Marijuana and to that extent you must legalise it,” he said.

He said such suggestions are only coming up because of the proliferation of small arms in the system.

Nana Obiri-Yeboah said the legislature would rather find a stronger basis for the passage of any law that establishes that legalisation of small arms production in the country, if it is to consider it at all.

However in another sharp response to the issue, a security analyst Dr Samuel Annin said arguing against legalising small arms production in the country amounts to trivialising the issue.

He said legalising the production of arms in the country would rather bolster Ghana's effort at creating an industrialised society.

For some others engaged in the debate, looking at the demand and supply curve of small arms in the country would shape the decision better.

Story by Fiifi Koomson