The Government of Ghana through the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons in collaboration with the Small Arms Survey is organizing a workshop focused on Counter-IED Preparedness and Response Capability Maturity Model Self-Assessment.
The workshop scheduled from October 4th to October 6th in Accra, marks a significant move in the country’s fight against IED threats. Utilizing the expertise of international partners and the local insights of security agencies, the event’s design phase will adapt methodologies to Ghana’s unique context, assessing existing challenges and emerging risks.
Key objectives include identifying Ghana’s strengths and weaknesses in preventing and responding to IED incidents. By addressing these gaps, the workshop aims to develop effective measures and strategies, serving as the foundation for Ghana’s enhanced Counter-IED frameworks.
The region has witnessed a worrying expansion of IED use, primarily propagated by illicit networks that have established intricate material and training connections across conflict zones. IED has emerged as the weapon of choice for unauthorized armed groups and terrorists, causing unprecedented civilian casualties, military and security force losses, and destruction of vital infrastructure across countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria.
The outcome of this workshop is expected to pave the way for a robust and coordinated regional strategy to combat IED threats. By identifying priorities and challenges, the workshop’s findings will be instrumental in supporting Ghana’s review, update, or development of a national roadmap to strengthen its Counter-IED frameworks. Moreover, these insights will guide future implementations, monitoring, and evaluation of Counter-IED activities in collaboration with the Government of Ghana and its partners.
The Small Arms Survey, an integral part of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, plays a critical role in shaping policy and practice. Their approach. Combining data, evidence-based knowledge, expert advice, and resources, significantly influences decision-making processes.
This workshop is made possible through the support of the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), underscoring the importance of international collaboration in addressing regional security challenges.