Elections 2016: Arms Commission targets flashpoints

The Small Arms Commission has targeted a number of communities in Ghana where civilians are increasingly securing weapons ahead of the November general elections.

These communities have also been identified by the police to be flashpoints of potential conflict during the polls. Officials of the Arms Commission intend engaging community leaders of these areas with the hope of getting people to voluntarily give up their weapons.

The police over the past months have retrieved and seized weapons from civilians.

The executive secretary of the Commission, Jones Applerh, told Morning Starr host Nii Arday Clegg that it is in the best interest of Ghana to win the fight against the proliferation of weapons among civilians.

“This year is election,and there are some communities notoriously known to be conflict-prone. In 2012 the police gave us communities like Asawase, Bekwai, Atiwa, Kyereponi, Akwatia and Odododiodio and we had engagement with communities and political party leaders,” Mr. Applerh stressed.

The elections have been slated for November 7, 2016.