West Africa: Ecowas Convention On Small Arms Zooms

The Analyst (Monrovia)
9 April 2008
Posted to the web 9 April 2008

J. Nathaniel Daygbor

http://allafrica.com/stories/200804090878.html

The ratification of the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their ammunition and related materials has begun in Monrovia.

The ratification exercise, which is expected to be discharged by the National Legislature, was launched on Friday, April 4, 2008 at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Monrovia. The ceremony brought together lawmakers, government officials, civil society leaders, rights activists and the public.

Speaking during the ceremony the chairperson of the Liberian Action Network on Small Arms (LANSA), Rev. Fr. Anthony Borwah said LANSA, is a consortium of over 25 civil society organizations collaborating and cooperation to eradicate the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in Liberia.

Fr. Borwah said the objectives of the convention include the consolidation of the gains of the declaration of moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and its code of conduct and the continuation of efforts for the control of small arms and light weapons within the ECOWAS countries.

Fr. Borwah further listed as objectives of the convention, the promotion of trust between member states through concerted and the transparent action on the control of small arms and light weapons within ECOWAS members and the promotion of the exchange of information and cooperation among member states amongst others.

According to him, almost all houses of parliament within the sub-region have ratified the convention, noting that Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a signatory to the convention.

"This day in Liberia, we have emphatically launched a process that will to accelerate the ratification of the ECOWAS convention by the National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia", the Catholic priest said.

The deadline of the submission of the ratified document to ECOWAS secretariat on Small Arms control is may of this year. He expressed thanks and appreciation to partners of LANSA for their continuous support for the fight against small arms.