ECOWAS has lauded the Forum for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) for its research and publication on the implementation of the Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons in the sub-region.
Mr Abayomi Adeomi, the Programmes Officer for Small Arms at the ECOWAS Commission, said the publication would serve as a guide to the Commission in observing the implementation of its Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Mr Adeomi was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on the side-lines of a sub-regional meeting of stakeholders on security and development, under the auspices of FOSDA.
He said controlling the proliferation of small and light weapons was critical to the maintenance of peace and security for the sub-region’s socio-economic development.
The FOSDA report dubbed: “Tracking Compliance of ECOWAS States to the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and their Related Materials: A survey of Ghana, Sierra Leone and Togo”, was launched in Accra at a sub-regional meeting of stakeholders.
The FOSDA study found that the three countries were at various levels of compliance to the Convention and had made significant progress in the areas of establishment of National Commissions on Small Arms; Border Enforcement; Public Education and the Culture of Peace, but fared fairly in the other areas investigated.
FOSDA is a CSO with the mission to promote peace and human security by working to realise the lasting potential of communities and individuals through the systematic and effective sharing of information, knowledge and skills.
Mr Adeomi said the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) such as FOSDA was very crucial in the process of seeking compliance to the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
He reiterated the commitment of the ECOWAS Commission to eliminating the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the sub-region and urged member states to do more in that direction.
He urged security agencies of member states to enforce strict border control measures to ensure that such weapons were not smuggled to destabilise the peace and security of the sub-region.
Source: GNA
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