The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa has expressed concern about rising gun violence in Ghana, considering the security situation in West Africa and the Sahel and as the country heads for elections in December 2024. At a recent workshop on Arms legislation in Ghana, organised by the West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) under the Salient Fund, FOSDA revealed that it’s third quarter (April-June) violent incidents monitoring recorded 18 incidents of gun-related violence which represents  55.5% increase in gun violence across the country compared to 10 incidents recorded in the first quarter of 2024 (January – March). In total, violence perpetuated by guns represented  around 20.93% of violence reported in the media in the second quarter of 2022.

According to the Executive Director of FOSDA, Mrs Theodora Williams Anti, who represented the organisation at the workshop, FOSDA recognizes that media reports of gun violence reduced significantly in the first and second quarters of this year, 2024. Twenty (28) incidents have been recorded so far, compared to the 68 incidents recorded within the same period in 2023. She reiterated that irrespective of gains made, the current rising trend since January 2024 is a significant source of worry especially, as the country heads to general elections in 2024.

She therefore called on the Government of Ghana, through the Minister of the Interior to tighten arms control laws in the country to enhance citizen freedom, peace and security in the country.

According to the Executive Director, the review of arms control laws in Ghana is long overdue. Currently Ghana is implementing the 1972 Arms and Ammunition law and the 2007 National Commmission on Small Arms and Light Weapons law. ‘These are obsolete in the face of the new trends of technology deployed in arms and ammunition production, their use and transfer and diversion.

Ghana has ratified important international law such as UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which plays a substantive role in arms control globally, however, over nine years since Ghana ratified the ATT, not much effort has been made towards its implementation in the country. The Small Arms Commission which was established under the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms in 2005, also remains an advisory rather than a regulatory  body, without the required legal capacity to implement these laws.  

Given the precarious security situation in the west- African sub-region, FOSDA is calling on the Government of Ghana to urgently review arms control legislation to minimize proliferation of illicit arms as well as enhance citizens’ peace and security before, during and after the upcoming 2024 general election.  The Executive Director called on the Minister of Interior and the Government  take immediate steps to enhance arms control and regulation in Ghana.

WAANSA is a network of Civil Society organisations working on the issue of small arms and peace and security in Ghana. WAANSA is a key partner of the UN Salient Project being implemented in Ghana through the UNDP.