The Law banning manufacturing of firearms in the country is still in force, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Dr Kwasi Apea-Kubi has stated. He gave the reminder when he addressed members of the Ashanti Regional Blacksmiths Association in Kumasi Monday. Mr Apea-Kubi stressed that the issue of manufacturing of local firearms by some blacksmiths had been a thorny one as the continued circulation of those illegal weapons were causing havoc to innocent people. The situation, the minister noted, had put all blacksmiths in a bad light, and therefore, called on them to assist in the crusade to fight against the spread of illicit arms in the country. The deputy minister reminded them that their families or those around them could easily become victims of the firearms that they themselves manufactured or transferred to others illegally. He stated that the country had not been given the authority by the United Nations to manufacture firearms. Dr Apea-Kubi said the blacksmiths, among other things, were in other viable ventures like repairing imported weapons, producing bolts and nuts, hots, machete, pruning implements (for plucking cocoa), handcuffs and other metal implements. He said it was against that background that the Government in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), had decided to assist them in the area of capacity building programmes to improve upon their skills, offer microfinance schemes and marketing of their produce through an alternative livelihood scheme. Dr Apea-Kubi said the government was happy that the blacksmiths had taken the initiative to come together to form an association, which he said, was the best form of getting assistance. The meeting afforded the members the opportunity to interact with the deputy minister and expressed themselves freely and put their problems across. The members admitted that almost all of them were involved in the manufacture of the small arms but added that since the association was formed, they had even put a task force in place to arrest those who were involved in that practice. They, however, said they had enough skills in the manufacturing of the small arms and therefore, urged the deputy minister to provide them with license to produce some of them. Later, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Mr Akwasi Duku led Dr Apea-Kubi to inspect a newly furnished Ashanti Regional firearms bureau. The UNDP Programme Officer, Mr Daniel Andoh and Police Superintendent Aboagye Nyarko, in charge of Police Firearms, accompanied the deputy minister during the inspection tour. Source: Daily Graphic