The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has launched the Ghana Arms Database System also known as THE GAD.
The establishment of the Database Management System on Small Arms and related matters is a response to the obligation under the ECOWAS Convention and obligations under other International Instruments on database and recordkeeping.
The database will seek to capture data on arms related issues among others in collaboration with the Security Agencies, particularly the Ghana Police Service.
Addressing the stakeholders, development partners and Board Members of the Commission at the event in Akosombo last Thursday, the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Ambrose Dery, expressed his excitement over the initiative.
According to him, such an initiative will enhance data collection, analysis and dissemination which will inform Government’s policy interventions.
He called for “greater collaboration” among the Security Agencies. He also urged them to deploy technology and adopt digital tools to fight against the proliferation of arms.
Speaking also at the event, the UNDP representative, Dr. Edward Ampratwum, welcomed the initiative and shared his optimism of the system serving as an effective tool for recording, analyzing and reporting information on conventional weapons in Ghana.
The launch was organized by the Commission in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with financial support with the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO)