The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons is an Agency established by an Act of Parliament; Act 736 of 2007. The Commission exists among other things, to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons; educate and sensitize the public and provide information on the dangers of small arms and light weapons in order to discourage their production.

Functions

a)      set in place programmes of action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms

and light weapons.

b)  educate and sensitize the public and provide information on the dangers of small arms and light

weapons in order to discourage their acquisition and production.

c)   ensure that obligations under the UN Firearms Protocol, ECOWAS Convention, and other

International Instruments on SALW to which Ghana is a party or has acceded to are complied with.

d)  advise the Minister for the Interior on the formulation of policies and strategies towards the

implementation of provisions as contained in the ECOWAS Convention on SALW,  UN Firearms

Protocol and any other relevant international conventions on SALW to which Ghana is a party

or has acceded to.

e)   receive, study and analyse periodic reports from the Ghana Police Service on the registration and

licensing of arms to inform decision and policy and

f)    perform any other functions related to the objectives of the Commission.

 

Mandate

The Commission’s mandate is to:

  • manage issues relating to small arms, particularly the control of their illegal proliferation

(illegal production, trade, transfer and cross boundary movement) which leads to their easy

availability, accessibility and misuse in armed violence as well as the fueling of conflict and

crime;

  • advise government on small arms policy issues; and
  • coordinate national implementation of the ECOWAS Convention, United Nations

Programme of Action (UNPoA) & other International Instruments on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and report on Ghana’s compliance.

Mission

The Commission exists to prevent and combat the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons and related materials in the country through advocacy, public sensitization, and formulation of appropriate policies in close collaboration with stakeholders.

Vision

The Vision of the NACSA is to contribute towards the building of peace and security in Ghana by

effective control of Small Arms and Light Weapons and related materials.

Objective

  1. Promote public safety and security through advocacy for a gun/armed violence free society
  2. Contribute towards the provision and enhancement of internal security for human safety,

protection and peace

  1. Embark on effective public awareness creation on the dangers of illicit small arms and gun

violence on public safety and security

  1. Enhance capacity of Security Agencies on small arms control to fight illicit circulation of arms and improve protection of life and property
  2. Improve Government commitment to international protocols and conventions on small arms and

light weapons, and their incorporation into national agenda

  1. Improve collaboration with Security Agencies on establishing database on small arms and light

weapons, and related materials for policy formulation, analysis and decision-making.

Goals

Enhance public safety and security through the control and regulation of small arms which are tools of Armed violence.

Contact

Address:          The Executive Secretary, National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, P.O. Box M42,     Accra

Tel:                  +233 302 669071,  +233 302 687409, +233 302 6874010

Fax:                 +233 302 687409

Website:          http://www.smallarmscommission.gov.gh/

E-mail:            info@smallarmscommission.gov.gh