The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has revealed that approximately 1.1 million small arms and light weapons circulating within the country cannot be adequately traced or documented. This significant number of unaccounted-for weapons, out of a total of 2.3 million currently in circulation, poses a serious threat to the nation’s security.
Speaking at the sidelines of a regional conference focused on addressing the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personal mines, Frank Boateng Asumani, the Head of the National Arms Marking Programme at the commission, underscored the ongoing efforts to mitigate the proliferation of these arms.
“We currently have 2.3 million small and light weapons in circulation, with 1.2 million of them legally registered. However, the remaining 1.1 million cannot be properly traced or accounted for. Therefore, the commission is actively seeking funding to assess the extent of proliferation in the system. These weapons include AK47s, pistols, pump-action guns, and locally manufactured firearms,” Asumani stated.
In a separate development, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called upon countries such as Libya, Egypt, and Morocco to prioritize the ratification of the convention banning anti-personnel mines. This urgent appeal aims to prevent the humanitarian consequences caused by these weapons.
