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Proliferation of Small Arms: A
Threat to Democracy
A GNA Feature by Francis Ameyibor
Global efforts included; United
Nations international instrument adopted in 2005 which seeks
to enable States to identify and rapidly trace small arms
and light weapons, UN Protocol on the manufacture and
illicit trade in fire arms, spare parts, components and
ammunition adopted in 2001.
The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2002) on women,
peace and security which recognises the specific role of
women in peace building and the UN Security Council
resolutions on children and armed conflicts; against the use
of children in armed conflicts.
In addition to United Nations Conventions and other related
policies to combat illicit small arms trade, the United
States of America tagged as global leader on the efforts to
mitigate the illicit trafficking and destabilizing
accumulation of SA/LW had step-up efforts through
multilateral diplomacy and bilateral assistance to countries
in need.
Specifically, the USA has directed its policies at building
and enhancing enforcement and legal capacities, better
controlling proliferation to areas of conflict, providing
training on export control and customs practices,
discouraging irresponsible and indiscriminate exports,
strengthening sanctions against violators of embargoes, and
enhancing stockpile security and destroying excess weapons.
The U.S. approach focuses on practical, effective measures
to address the problem of illicit SA/LW trafficking in
conflict regions where it is most urgent, while
acknowledging the legitimacy of legal trade, manufacture,
and ownership of arms.
REGIONAL EFFORTS
Within the sub-regional context, a comprehensive and
credible ECOWAS Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for
Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping
and Security was established in December 1999 to provide the
framework for early warning, backed by structures to
prevent, manage and resolve conflicts.
According to Mr Jonathan Sandy, ECOWAS Small Arms Control
Officer, the promulgation of ECOWAS Convention on SALW were
additional efforts at sub-regional level to prevent and
combat the excessive and destabilising accumulation of small
arms and light weapons within sub-region.
The Convention seeks to mandate countries within the region;
to continue the efforts for the control of small arms and
light weapon; consolidate the gains of the Declaration of
the Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and
Manufacture of small arms and its Code of Conduct.
It seeks to build institutional and operational capacities
of the ECOWAS Executive Secretariat and the Member States in
the efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms and
light weapons, their ammunitions and other related
materials; and to promote the exchange of information and
cooperation among the Member States.
The convention also mandate member states to control the
manufacture of small arms and light weapons within their
national territories; each member state "shall regulate the
activities of local small arms and light weapons
manufacturers and shall undertake to adopt strategies and
policies to the reduction and/or limitation of the
manufacture of small arms and light weapons so as to control
the local manufacture as well as their marketing in ECOWAS
region.
Mr SANDY said what has been lacking within ECOWAS, though,
is an ability to respond early to threats which are beyond
the capacities of member states with a credible and robust
sub-regional standby force.
However, efforts by the ECOWAS Defence and Security
Commission (DSC) to establish an ECOWAS standby force for
rapid deployment to contain conflicts and other
destabilizing acts within ECOWAS member states is
commendable and a step in the right direction.
LOCAL INITIATIVES
In addition to these positive developments, a Ghanaian
Security Expert told the GNA that the country since 2000 had
embarked on what was coded in security parlance as: Security
Sector Reform or Transformation (SSR/T).
The initiative, according to him was pioneered by
non-governmental organizations and personnel within the
security agencies, was under the auspices of the Government
and the United Nations Development Programme Thematic Trust
Fund (UNDP-TTF) for reform of the Ghana Police Service (GPS)
and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Department for
International Development (DfID) for the military.
He explained that the SSR/T initiative was to equip,
reorient the philosophies, attitudes and modus operandi of
both government and the security agencies to handle
challenges posed by mercenaries in the 21st century.
These security agencies, tasked with guaranteeing state and
human security under the 1992 Constitution, fall under the
executive arms of government, with the legislature
exercising prudent oversight functions over these agencies.
He assured the public that these initiatives in itself were
credible to consolidate good governance and maintain a
peaceful and democratic country.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is solely mandated by the 1992
Constitution of Ghana to be equipped and maintained to
perform their role of defence as well as undertake such
other functions for the development of Ghana as the
President may determine.
In similar stratum, the Security and Intelligence Agencies
Act of 1996, Act 526, makes provision for internal and
external security of Ghana and details the institutions and
structures responsible for guaranteeing the security of the
country.
The GAF is also credited all over the world for its
professionalism and a good sense of dedication to duty on
peace support operations. These competencies provide a good
basis for dealing with threats to Ghana's security
challenges.
The country's conflict prevention and management mechanism
had also contributed to secure the country for all these
years. This is a 'good practice' that should be further
strengthened to detect any untoward activities in the
country and also prevent, manage and resolve any election
related conflicts possible to disorganized the national
stability.
SALW A THREAT TO DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN GHANA
Security experts however, cautioned that, "the nation should
not go to sleep, especially as we prepare for Elections 2008
to either maintain or change the democratically elected
government of the ruling regime.
The experts said the country, perceived as a stable,
democratic nation and ascribed as the "Gateway to the West
Africa sub-region," was prone to activities of either
operatives of the ruling political party trying to hold on
to their authority at all means, or by opposition elements
committed to overthrowing the government, came what may.
The stakes for Elections 2008, especially for the two main
political parties the ruling NPP and main opposition NDC are
high as regards who takes over government in 2009.
As the days draw by, it is expected that the parties may
concentrate and harp on their opponents' shortfalls and
weaknesses as a means of getting themselves into power,
which normally creates all kinds of tension and insecurity.
The use of hard hitting words by leading political party
factionaries in an attempt to convince the electorate of the
potency of their respective parties for ruling the country
and rubbishing opposing forces create fear and tension in an
otherwise stable political environment.
Recent alleged assassination threats on the lives of
politicians on both political divide should be construed as
an early warning signal for the security agencies to put in
place adequate preparation for an early response to
exigencies.
This concern is informed by a turbulent history of electoral
conflicts in the past and the porous nature of security at
the borders within the sub-region. Elections in Ghana are
always characterized by widespread tension in which
pronouncements by political players and sensational
headlines by the media, create general fear, insecurity and
tension.
GNA observation of interviews and comments by security
analysts in the media, in recent past indicated major
security concerns as we prepared gradually towards Elections
2008.
WAANSA and other civil society observers expect Ghana's
national security apparatus to guard against any underhand
mobilization for destabilization before, during or
immediately after the elections.
It would be recalled that non-state actors, specifically
rebel combatants, have engaged in destabilising acts in West
Africa.
These combatants are either recruited locally or from
outside the country in which the conflict takes place,
mainly to destabilise or overthrow the government in an
attempt to wrest power and allegedly restore good governance
for the betterment of the lives of individuals who remain
targets in these civil wars.
Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire, among other
West African countries, have experienced civil wars fought
by a mix of combatants who are either nationals or
non-nationals.
These combatants are seen in different conflicts, especially
in the Mano River Basin and have participated in on-going
disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes (DDR)
in some of these countries.
CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH REAL THREATS
With obvious mercenary engagement in West Africa and the
possibilities of destabilizing relatively peaceful ECOWAS
member states, as well as states in transition or states
emerging from complex humanitarian emergencies, there is the
need to identify options for control of such activity, which
included the immediate ratification of the ECOWAS
Convention.
THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
The challenge for Ghana, regarding the media however, lies
in the dilemma of exercising an editorial discretion based
on good judgement, balanced opinion, objective and
verifiable contents and the ability to use the "fourth
estate of the realm" not to hype or cause destabilizing
sensations but to maintain a stable and peaceful environment
for democratic consolidation.
The media as "a fourth estate of the realm" has the
responsibility to remain fair, objective and neutral as the
processes towards elections gained momentum. It must give
adequate information to the electorate to facilitate
informed choices rather than whip up sentiments or fan
simmering disputes and party political rivalries with
inflammatory statements and sensational headlines.
The media, holds the key to constitutional development and
sustenance of the democratic dispensation in the country. It
is believed that the media's ability to hold, direct and
incite the general public's perception and thinking on an
issue is very paramount for the survival and promotion of
democracy and must be acknowledged by all as we move towards
Elections 2008.
INSTITUIONAL LEVEL
The urgent need for institutions to share knowledge and
understanding of ECOSAP Regional Programme Management Team
based in Bamako, Mali; WAANSA operations; institutionalising
the partnership between Civil Society Organisations,
Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), the National
Commissions on Small Arms Control (NATCOMs); and the ECOWAS
Small Arms Unit (SAU).
Mr Laary Bimi, Chairman of the National Commission for Civic
Education (NCCE), said the key for protecting our democracy
stemmed from understanding of the basic tenets of democracy
with its associated rights and obligations and the
strengthening of democratic institutions to ensure the
survival of the Constitution.
He explained in an interview with the GNA that
constitutional rule and democracy would only thrive in a
proactive civic society supported by a vibrant, free and
independent press and judiciary and in a society in which
individuals were alive to their responsibilities and were
ready to assert their rights.
"Indeed, it is important that the Ghanaian community
develop, strengthen and institutionalise the culture of
constitutionalism in the hearts and minds of all,
irrespective of age or sex."
ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES
Political parties are also expected to be circumspect in
their campaigning, propagandist activities, and adhere to
the Political Parties Code of Ethics.
In view of the sensitivity and importance of Elections 2008,
it is necessary to draw the attention of all political
parties to the Code of Conduct for Political Parties adopted
on May 18, 2000.
The code says all political parties have the right and
freedom to put forward their views to the electorate without
hindrance. All parties must publicly condemn any form of
political violence or intimidation, irrespective of who
originates it.
Accordingly no political party should indulge in violent
activity or intimidation of any kind, as a way of
demonstrating its strength or supremacy.
The parties are also expected at all times to avoid
defamatory, derogatory and insulting attacks on rival
parties or individual personalities through any form of
communication, verbal or written.
During campaigning, political parties or individuals are to
avoid the use of inflammatory language, actions, images or
manifestations that incite violence, hatred, contempt or
intimidation against another party or candidate or any other
group of persons on grounds of ethnicity or gender or for
any other reason.
INTELLECTUAL IGNORANCE
Quite unfortunately, many Ghanaians, including
intellectuals, politicians, academicians and security
agencies, have exposed their ignorance of the principles and
objectives of the 1992 Constitution in one way or
the other.
This phenomenon, if allowed to continue for a long time,
could be the bane that would destabilise the fledgling
democracy and not necessary the mere proliferation of small
arms and light weapons.
GNA
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