Arms proliferation, threat to MDGs

Page34, Aug 1, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE proliferation of small arms is a major threat to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by developing countries, the Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen, has stated.
He has, therefore, called for the strengthening of international co-operation and assistance, especially financial and technical, to developing countries to implement the provisions of national plans of action to combat the proliferation of small arms.
He was addressing the Third Biennial Meeting of States which was held in New York, USA, to consider the implementation of action to combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
Nana Boahen said Ghana had achieved practical and measurable results in the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on the combating of small arms and light weapons.
He stated that Ghana had established a national commission devoted to the implementation of the programme of action from an integrated perspective.
The minister added that the commission was currently developing a national plan of action for arms control and management, which would provide a multi-year framework for the comprehensive set of activities to inform the strategies for addressing the small arms problem.
He explained that the plan reinforced some of the ongoing activities of the commission, such as awareness creation campaigns, arms collection and destruction activities and a national stocktaking exercise of state arms.
In addition, the minister said Ghana was collaborating with neighbouring states to harmonise their activities to control the smuggling of small arms across national borders.
Nana Boahen called for greater south-south co-operation, as well as south-north collaboration, since many states in the global south had relevant expertise and could have a better understanding of the context than those in the global north.
He suggested to countries to consider supporting and improving stockpile management and security, not just for the military sector but also the police and other security agencies.
Nana Boahen said Ghana appreciated the opportunity to participate in the meeting, since the process had enabled major exporters of small arms to show their political will to work with importing countries to curb small arms proliferation, among other benefits.