New executives for West African Action Network on Small Arms

Accra, Oct. 13, GNA - The West African Action Network on Small Arms and Light Weapons (WAANSA) has elected a seven-member sub-regional executive to steer affairs of the body for the next four years.

Mr Amadou Maiga, of Mali, was elected as President, Mr Dickson Orji of Nigeria and Ms Mariam Lehoun of Burkina Faso, respectively, are the First and Second Vice Presidents, while Oumarou Alpha Abdoulkachi of Niger was elected as Treasurer.

Other Executive members without portfolio are Mr Ken Kinney, Ghana; Carmen Todonou, Benin; and Youssoupha Badji, Senegal.

The officers were elected at the Fourth Annual General Meeting of Civil Society organisations under WAANSA held in Accra, Ghana.

It was attended by representatives from Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and the Association of Journalists for Peace, Security, and Development in West Africa.

Representatives of the National Commissions on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NATCOMs), the Kofi Annan International Peace-keeping and Training Centre (KAIPTC) and the ECOWAS Commission were also in attendance.

The WAANSA AGM was used for stock taking of peace and security issues in the ECOWAS region and the role its members play.

It was also used to assess its role and progress and how it could reorganise itself by taking a close look at the constitution as well as renew its leadership for its future operations.

A communiqué issued at the end of the AGM adopted five key priority areas for the next five years (2016-2021).

It focuses on awareness creation through social networks and advocacy with the authorities; Research and extensive documentation; Mobilization of Resources; Strengthening the Partnership and Networking; and Capacity building.

Dr. Adamu, the acting Head of the Small Arms Unit, underscored the support ECOWAS had provided to member states and civil society groups to support the fight against small arms proliferation and argued that WAANSA had a great potential to further consolidate its achievements in arms control in the region.

Other leading personalities who attended include: Mr. Baffour Dokyi-Amoa immediate past WAANSA President; Brigadier General Francis A. Agyemfra, Chairman of the Ghana NatCom; and Dr. Adamu Sani and Mrs Salamatu Husseini Suleiman, who represented ECOWAS.

GNA