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ECOWAS mission urges ratification of
arms convention
Accra, July 19, Ghanadot/GNA – A five-member ECOWAS
sensitization team is in Accra on a three-day advocacy
mission towards the ratification of the ECOWAS Convention on
Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and Related
Matters.
The leader of the team, Col. Mahamane Toure, ECOWAS
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, told
the Ghana News Agency they will hold consultations with
stakeholders in government including The Presidency, the
National Assembly, civil society and the media to find ways
of fast-tracking the ratification of the Convention by the
National Assembly.
Other members are General Charles Okae, director peace and
security, Mr. Roger Laloupo, ECOWAS Director of Legal
Affairs, Dr. Cyriaque Agnekethom, Head of Small Arms Unit
and Mr. Sunny Ugoh, Principal Programme Officer in the
Department of Communication of the ECOWAS Commission.
Members already met with the national Commission on Small
Arms and Light Weapons, the Ministry of National Security
and the Defence Ministry.
The campaign against the proliferation of SALW is aimed at
reducing the incidences of violence and conflicts, which has
been blamed for the crises in the region, in order to
facilitate the economic development of West Africa.
Ratification by nine of the 15 Member States is required
before the Convention can come into force. Meanwhile, a
number of Member States have expressed commitment to
ratifying the document, which has so far been ratified by
Niger, Col. Toure said.
He said the Convention would encourage local manufacturers
of weapons to revert into alternative livelihood ventures
such as the manufacturing of agriculture inputs.
The convention, which was signed by Heads of State and
Governments in Abuja on June 14, 2006, will replace the
moratorium on the exportation and manufacturing of small
arms and light weapons, the only existing regional framework
for preventing the proliferation of arms in the region.
GNA
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