Small Arms control plays an important role in supporting peace and stability in preventing crime and terrorism and it improves the lives of people around the globe.
The fight against transnational organized crime in which the fight against Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is one of the important branches of Germany’s approach to crisis prevent and stabilization.
Effective small arms control has always been a priority of Germany’s disarmament and arms control efforts which is why this year alone, Germany provided approximately 9 million euros to small arms control projects in the ECOWAS Region.
This was made known at the just ended 3-day annual meeting held in Accra with Heads of National Commissions on SALW within the ECOWAS Region.
In her statement, the Head of Administration at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Accra, Andrea Grimm, reiterated Germany’s support in the areas of existing and development of new international disarmament and arms control norms and standards, concrete capacity building measures to support the fight against illicit arms trade and the strengthening of regional exchanges and networks.
She commended ECOWAS for being a frontrunner on regional exchange and action which led to the adoption of the ECOWAS Convention in 2006 and further reiterated Germany’s support towards the implementation of its 5-Year Plan of Action.
She reaffirmed Germany’s continuous support and partnership with ECOWAS in order to enhance security and stability in West Africa.
