The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Hon. Gifty Eugenia Kusi, has revealed that Small Arms owned by civilians would be marked in due course with a unique ECOWAS standard coding system.
Hon. Gifty Kusi who delivered the Keynote address at the seventh (7th) Weapons Destruction Programme organised by the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons further revealed that markings of the weapons of the Ghana Police Service and Immigration Service was almost complete.
According to her, the marking exercise would enhance accountability of weapons, facilitate easy tracking and identification of stolen or lost small arms.
She appealed to the public to trust in the Security Agencies in protecting them as acquiring and keeping small arms do not guarantee their total security. She also added that possession of illicit weapons is a first-degree felony that can send one to jail for a minimum of ten (10) years under section 192 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960.
Hon. Gifty Kusi assured the general public that there would be tightened surveillance at the various borders and increased Police presence and patrols within the communities to maintain their peace and security.
The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior and in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Armed Forces destroyed 1,194 illicit weapons which were seized or confiscated specifically in the Western and Western North Regions of Ghana.
The Commission undertakes weapons destruction exercises to prevent the potential transfer of seized and confiscated illicit small arms, reduce the number of illicit small arms and enhance public safety and security in the country.