By Murtala Issah
Ghana is considered an oasis of peace in a subregion that has faced turmoil for decades. Apart from decades of political instability, violent extremist groups have threatened to destabilise the West African subregion.
These groups now occupy large parts of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. They have also attacked Benin, Togo, and the Ivory Coast, the last two sharing common borders with Ghana to the East and West respectively.
Despite its reputation as a haven of peace, Ghana has suffered pockets of communal violence, chieftaincy, ethnic, and land conflicts. Experts have attributed the frequent conflicts, particularly in Northern Ghana, to the circulation of illegal small arms.
The Small Arms Commission estimates that more than 3million illegal arms are circulating in the country, raising fears about the security implication. In Dagbon, many traditional events like funerals, enskinments and festivals are marked with the firing of musketeers. However, in recent times, some individuals have started using sophisticated weapons on such occasions, sometimes leading to fatalities.
The Yaa Naa, Abubakari Mahama, at a Dagbon Traditional Council Meeting in Yendi on Tuesday, reiterated the ban on the possession and display of small arms at events in Dagbon. The decision comes at a time when stakeholders in Dagbon and the Northern Region are intensifying efforts to consolidate gains made in ensuring sustainable peace in the area.
Since his enskinment five years ago, Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama has worked to promote peace and security across the Northern Region.
The Northern Regional Security Council has welcomed the announcement from the overlord, saying it aligns with the council’s vision of ensuring sustainable peace in the region. The Chairman of the Regional Security Council, Alhaji Shaani Alhassan Shaibu, assured the public that, the council will enforce the law on the ban.
This is not the first time that the Yaa Naa has announced a ban on the possession and display of small arms at events in Dagbon. Two years ago, he made a similar announcement, but enforcement has remained a challenge.
