The Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery has charged the new governing board of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCSALW) to be vigilant and control the illicit trade, manufacture and proliferation of small arms and light weapons into the country.

He said the fight against the circulation and possession of illegal small arms and light weapons in the country is government’s top priority.

Inaugurating the new 15-member governing board of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Accra, advised the board to put in place effective measures to combat the act.

“You need to raise awareness among the populace especially border communities and be vigilant in gathering information on illicit arms trade, manufacture, and smuggling to enable the law enforcement agencies to act swiftly,” he said.

According to him, the government is convinced that ensuring the prevention of illegal circulation of small arms and light weapons is necessary to enhance internal security, prevent conflict, avoid violent crimes and promote sustainable development.

He added that there is a need for enhanced and sustainable preventive approaches to be adopted to raise the alertness and the capacities of the security agencies, especially at the entry points into the country.

He further urged the board to complement the activities and operations of the security agencies in sustaining peace and security.

The members of the board include; Rev. Dr Paul Frimpong-Manso as Chairperson, Jones Borteye Applerh, Small Arms (Executive Secretary), Col. Foster Ohene O. Yeboah and Col. Gaspard D.K Asare from the Ghana Armed Forces, Mavis Esi Kusorgbor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Solomon Tetteh Mensah, Ministry of the Interior, Sefakor Batse, Ministry of Justice & Attorney-General’s Department, Baffour Dokyi Amoa, Civil Society of Ghana (International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), Col. Michael Kwadwo Opoku, National Security Council, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, Ghana and COP/Isaac Ken Yeboah from the Ghana Police Service.

Other members are; DCG/Laud Kwasi Ofori Affrifah, Ghana Immigration Service, Emmanuel Owusu-Boakye, Custom Excise & Preventive Service and two president’s nominees, Gabriel Nsoh Ade Agana and Brig. Gen. Joseph S. Nkrumah.

Mr Dery commended the board members and assured them of his support on how to strengthen the country’s gun control and monitoring systems to effectively deal with the recent emerging trends in organized crime and its associated demands for small arms and light weapons.