"My Gun is my Safety and Sign of Loyalty": Challenges of Micro Disarmament in Bawku,Ghana

Abstract

Scholars have long examined the effects of the illicit proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) on peace, security and development (Aning, 2005; Bah, 2004; Onuoha, 2012; Sowatey 2005). Policy interventions, both at national and supranational levels, include: cordon and search, 'voluntary surrender', weapons-for-development and weapons buy-back programmes. However, the implementation and effectiveness of such policies and interventions remain fraught with various challenges. Although Ghana has not experienced large scale/nationwide conflicts, there are concerns about the availability of illegal weapons: Bawku is a typical example. The security agencies, have over the years, largely relied on cordon and search to recover illicit weapons but this approach has not been successful! In 2014, the Minister of the Interior, (re)introduced a voluntary surrender and buy-back programme to retrieve illegal weapons in Bawku. However, this (second) attempt/programme appears not to have been successful (as some expected!). Using data from interviews with key actors in Bawku (between 2008 and 2016). This paper explains the challenges of micro disarmament. Specifically, the paper explores why the State’s voluntary and buy-back programmes have failed (and will likely continue to do so).