WAANSA Ghana strengthens ties with Ashanti Regional Association of Blacksmiths

The West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) Ghana has strengthened its ties with the Ashanti Regional Association of Blacksmiths as part of enhanced advocacy for the passage of the National Small Arms Bill 2023.

The strengthening of engagement was also in a bid to educate the association on the need to support the passage of the National Small Arms Bill, which will empower them as an organized group to join forces with national security for the prevention of the illicit manufacture and proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

The partnership, which was formalized during a training workshop organized by the West Africa Network on Small Arms and Light Weapons (WAANSA) Ghana for selected journalists in Kumasi, is part of the implementation of the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) FUND PROJECT.

The Salient Fund Project is a comprehensive initiative aimed at combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

The project is implemented under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator by UN agencies (UNDP and UNODC) working in collaboration with the Government of Ghana in collaboration with WAANSA Ghana, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), and the National Commission for Small Arms and Light Weapons.

The Ashanti Regional Association of Blacksmiths executives who participated in the media empowerment on the National Small Arms Bill 2023 included Mr. Philip Kwesi Nsiah, Secretary; Nana Kwame Adjei, Chairman; Nana Obeng Krah, Vice Chairman; and Mr. James Gbemu, Assistant Secretary.

Mr. Ken Kinney, WAANSA Ghana President, emphasises the need for multi-stakeholder engagement on the National Small Arms Bill 2023 for the government to pass it swiftly.

He noted that the media engagement forms part of empowering strategic groups to understand the bill, discuss their specific roles for the passage, and also use the platform to engage duty bearers to upscale the processes for the presentation of the draft bill to Cabinet.

He said the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is a major concern in Ghana and the West Africa region, stressing, “WAANSA Ghana has been working to address this issue through its advocacy and community engagement programmes.”

Mr. Kinney noted that the partnership between WAANSA Ghana and the Ashanti Regional Association of Blacksmiths seeks to promote peaceful and responsible blacksmithing practices in the Ashanti Region.

“To prevent the illicit manufacture and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, to provide training and capacity-building programmes for blacksmiths on peaceful and responsible manufacturing practices, and to create and promote collaboration and information-sharing between blacksmiths, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders,” the WAANSA Ghana President stated.

Mr. Nsiah, on behalf of the association, noted, "We are committed to working with WAANSA Ghana to promote peaceful and responsible blacksmithing practices in the Ashanti Region."

He stressed that the partnership will help the association to improve its works and practices, increase their economic opportunities, and contribute to sustainable peace and development in the region.

Mr. Francis Ameyibor, WAANSA Ghana/UNDP Saving Lives Entity Project Coordinator and Facilitator, noted that the laws and regulations that currently govern small arms and light weapons acquisition and usage are antiquated and insufficient to manage the new trends in weaponry.

He stressed the urgent need to establish a strong legal framework and curb the spread of small arms and light weapons in the nation, which have sadly ended up in the wrong hands and are being used in conflict zones, particularly in the north.

Mr. Ameyibor stated that to reduce the illegalities of these lethal weapons in Ghana and throughout the West African area, appropriate regulation of small arms and light weapons was required.

He noted that WAANSA-GHANA was committed to ensuring that all key stakeholders understand the need for the enactment of a legal framework to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and ammunition in the country, as it had been given an exclusive role within the SALIENT project to lead in advocacy.

"I think the media will be better equipped to assist or join the CSOs in advocating and lobbying for the Arms Commission Bill to become law by the end of this engagement," he said.