Baffour Dokyi Amoa, President of the West African Action Network on Small Arms (Waansa), has implored on Ecowas member states that have not signed the sub-regional Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons to do so speedily in order to holistically combat the menace in the West Africa.

Only Niger has so far ratified the convention since it was signed by member states on 14 June 2006. 

Mr. Amoa made this observation, while entreating about 100 participants in the ongoing sub-regional small arms-sensitive civil society consultative forum on the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States Small Arms Control Programme (Ecosap).

Addressing the participants, Mr. Amoa described peace as a priceless commodity that could be lost through the misuse of small arms and light weapons. He opined that unless the proliferation and misuse of small arms stop, the clock of development will reverse to the detriment of future generations. He then called for the ratification of the convention to consolidate current efforts and structures in Ecowas member states.

Besides that, on the need for ratification, he then added: "What we need is foot soldiers to spread the news that it is time to curtail the proliferation. It is time to precede on with the disarmament and the demobilisation programmes. It is time to launch new programmes to rehabilitate and reconstruct the broken homes and communities."

The Waansa’s President informed the delegates about efforts at the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Arms Trade Treaty. He announced that the UN Secretary-General has written to member states to contribute to this process, noting that a number of West African states are in the process of sending their contributions.

However, he expressed the need for speedy attention to the UN Secretary- General’s letter. "Obviously, the Ecowas convention will suffer in its effectives, if a global treaty on arms is not achieved," he warned.

He then urged: "Let’s therefore work hard against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in our sub-region."
Mr. Amoa used the opportunity to express solidarity with the people of Cote d’Ivoire as they transit out of the political upheaval that engulfed the country a few years ago.