A capacity-building workshop organized in Accra for civil organizations affiliated with the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA)-Ghana highlighted the need for immediate reform of Ghana's laws governing small arms and light weapons.

The session, held under the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) project, focused on developing a long-term communication strategy, formulating a comprehensive lobbying and advocacy plan for legal reforms, and issuing a call for immediate action.

This initiative represents a collaborative effort among various UN agencies, including UNDP and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to support the Ghanaian government and non-state actors such as the National Commission for Small Arms. Recent global events underscore the urgent need for a robust strategy to safeguard sustainable development gains and address the proliferation of small arms.

One of the key goals of the SALIENT project is to advance efforts toward the passage of the Small Arms Commission bill into law. This legislation aims to provide the necessary tools and mechanisms to effectively regulate the possession and transfer of small arms and light weapons. The project is implemented in Ghana by WAANSA-Ghana, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center.

The SALIENT initiative integrates multi-sectoral platforms and initiatives developed over the past two decades by UNDP, UNODC, and other UN bodies. These initiatives emphasize the need for a multi-sectoral approach to combating armed violence and controlling small arms and ammunition. Additionally, the project aims to support ongoing efforts by both UN and non-UN organizations involved in border control, law enforcement, and crime prevention.

President of WAANSA, Ken Kinney stated that civil society organizations and experts on small arms and light weapons will collaborate to create a strategic plan. This plan will enable targeted advocacy and lobbying efforts, particularly focusing on key stakeholders such as lawmakers, law enforcement, and parliament.

WAANSA is however calling for immediate legal changes to regulate small arms and light weapons in Ghana, emphasizing the necessity for stronger regulations, better enforcement, and responsible ownership and use. The CSOs have pledged commitment to address the issue of small arms and light weapons control in Ghana, as reiterated during the workshop.

Ghana is the third African country to benefit from the inaugural SALIENT trust fund, spearheaded by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project seeks to tackle armed violence and illicit small arms and light weapons trafficking through a comprehensive approach to sustainable security development.