After a successful launch, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons’ election related advocacy and sensitization campaign “Ballots without Bullets” has taken off.
The purpose of the campaign is to educate and sensitize the public on the dangers of small arms abuse related to the elections.
This year, the Ghana Police Service has identified over 4,000 hotspots likely to experience violence in the upcoming 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections if no precautionary measures are taken. Regions with the highest hotspots include Ashanti with 635 flashpoints, 537 in Central, 405 in Eastern and 323 and 321 in Western and Volta Regions respectively.
The porous nature of Ghana’s borders has been identified as a major source of illicit arms flow in the country.
As such, the Ballots without Bullets project will be focusing on Ten (10) hotspots Constituencies compromising of Three (3) border constituencies and Seven (7) non-border Constituencies.
The border Constituencies include Jirapa, Ketu South and Banda whilst Awutu Senya East, Offinso North, Effutu, Odododiodio, Lower West Akim, Asawase and Ho Central.
The campaign will use media outreach tools such as Print, Radio/TV and Social Media as well as sensitization workshop, production of customized advocacy materials and town hall meetings while adhering to strict COVID-19 protocols.
In collaboration with the United Nations Development Program and funding by the German Federal Foreign Office, the Commission is committed to the fight against the proliferation of small arms and ultimately prevent conflict and promote peace.