The Proliferation of Small Arms in West Africa and Its Security Implications for Ghana

Abstract

The proliferation of small arms and light weapons has been a major problem on the African continent for many years. It has been considered as the main driver of conflict on the continent, leading to massive displacement of people, increases in transnational crime, reversing democracy and development, and fueling the increase in criminal behavior in African states. The study is, therefore, an exploration of the proliferation of SALW in Africa, using Ghana as a case study. Relying on the concept of transnational security, the research employs such tools as interviews and extensive literature reviews to unearth the sources of illicit arms and the factors that facilitate proliferation in Ghana, the security implications of the proliferation of SALW in Ghana, and the effectiveness of legislative instruments that have been introduced to address the issue. The study finds that there two main sources of small arms in Ghana: from Local Manufacturers and from Imported Weapons. Factors like porous borders and corruption facilitate the proliferation of SALW in Ghana, leading to such security problems as threats to some aspects of human security, tensions during elections, and the escalation in communal conflicts. The study also finds that the policy interventions by government, including the Arms and Ammunitions Act, as well as the establishment of NACSA have not been effective in addressing the issue, leading several recommendations to address the problem, including intensifying public education and awareness, reviewing outdated legislations, working with the local gun-manufacturers, and providing adequate resources to the regulatory bodies.