In a collaborative effort to bolster Ghana’s fight against cross-border illicit trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons joined forces with the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC) and the Bundeswehr Verification Centre.
Fifteen (15) officers from the Commission and Four (4) officers Ghana Police Service, underwent a 4-day intensive training at the National Police Training School.
The program, supported by the General Federal Foreign Office and executed in collaboration with BICC and the Bundeswehr Verification Center, aimed to enhance the Commission’s capacities. Focusing on advanced skills in weapons identification and tracing seized weapons and ammunition, the training incorporated classroom sessions, practical exercise, and presentations on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and databases.
Expressing profound gratitude, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Samuel W. Yeboah, acknowledged the unwavering commitment of partners and donors to the Commission’s mission. He emphasized the pivotal role played by these organizations in supporting the Commission’s goal to prevent the trafficking of illicit arms and ammunition across borders.
The support received from partners and donors was deemed invaluable in ensuring the safety and security not only of Ghana but also of the entire West Africa region. The Executive Secretary underscored the importance of these partnerships, stating that they would enable the Commission to make a significant difference in the identification and tracing of weapons and ammunition within Ghana.
Major Laurentius Wedeniwski, leading a team from the Bundeswehr Verification Center, shared insights into the tailored training program. He highlighted its focus on providing participants with an overview and basic knowledge about the methodical approach to identify Small Arms and Light Weapons based on their characteristics and markings. Additional knowledge about collecting, marking and destroying weapons was also imparted during the training.
Mr. Leonard Tettey, the National Project Coordinator-UNDP & NACSA, emphasized the training’s objective to equip officers with practical skills for field identification and tracing of weapons and ammunition. This aligns with the Commission’s mandate to combat the illicit proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
He announced plans to scale up the training to include more officers from relevant stakeholders, with the intention of decentralize the tracing of weapons. The training has garnered attention from development partners willing to provide logistical and equipment support to ensure the effective tracing of weapons by the Commission.
