Emmanuel Aikins,
Lecturer, Wa
Polytechnic
Local manufacturers of small arms, and for that matter, blacksmiths, are not restricted to the production of small arms alone. Their work extends to the manufacture of other metal products. Hence, for one to argue that it would mean denying them of their daily bread if blacksmiths are arrested for producing small arms is untenable.
No matter the size of the arms that are produced, they have the capacity to inflict widespread destruction and distress.
We have heard of instances where people have used arms to cause havoc unjustifiably. In other countries where small arms are produced legally, people are tempted to use them even when they could have exercised a little restraint. There, people own the arms and have them in their vehicles, homes and offices and, therefore, use them with the slightest provocation.
Indeed, people who own guns also tend to abuse the laws of the land because of the feeling of power that the ownership of a small arm gives the holder. The gun gives them ego out of which they characteristically threaten people, with the result that in some instances innocent people are killed by stray bullets.
Currently, the manufacture of small arms has not been legalised but our security people are struggling to contain armed robbery and other violent crimes and this is where I think our focus should be for now, instead of venturing into dangerous grounds and considering the issue of legalising the manufacture of small arms in the country.
What we need to do as a country is to concentrate on building a prosperous country while tackling the problem of robbery and manufacturing arms with all seriousness. I will not, therefore, for once support the legalisation of small arms.
Dr Alexis
Nang-Beifubah,
Regional Director, Ghana Health Service
In my opinion, Ghana is not mature enough to legalise the manufacture of small arms. Considering the high numbers of unemployed youth on our hands, many of whom are seriously looking for opportunities to do anything; whether legal or illegal, we should not even think of embarking on such a venture.
Encouraging blacksmiths to go ahead with the large-scale production of these arms means we are only addressing one aspect of the problem, and that is encouraging them to produce potentially destructive items.
As of now we are all aware that armed robbery has in a way gone down and I believe it is all because of the difficulty of acquiring arms these days.
In this country, there is the difficult situation of ascertaining the psychological state of people and, therefore, to entrust people with weapons is to call for disaster on our heads.
In addition, the country lacks the capacity to determine the persons to be given the license to carry out the manufacture of these weapons.
On what grounds are the call for the legalisation of the manufacture of small arms based? Why must we even think of such a thing?. Seriously we do not want to have a gun society.
I think that what we need to do is to encourage blacksmiths to rather divert their energies towards the production of metal beds for our schools, hoes for our farmers and door frames among other things, which I suppose would be of immense benefit to the entire nation instead of the manufacture of small arms.
At the moment, it seems that apart from the manufacture of small arms our blacksmiths are incapable of producing any other item, which I believe is not the case.
Sadiyya Akuba Annor,
Student, University of Development Studies (UDS)
Until this debate on legalising the manufacture of small arms came up, many people did not realise the need to delve into issues relating to arms in this country.
Times have changed globally in terms of the way things are done so it is about time that this country adapted positively to these changing trend.
It is based on this that I will support the call for the manufacturing of small arms to be legalised. When this is done, I believe it will result in stringent monitoring mechanisms on the part of our security agencies.
If we keep tormenting blacksmiths and other manufacturers of these weapons, they will hide, produce the weapons and continue to outwit the security agencies and this could be dangerous for us as a country.
However, if the manufacture of small arms is legalised, the producers of the weapons could be registered, while producers who fail to register will fall foul of the laws of the land and be dealt with.
By legalising the activity, both manufacturers and buyers of guns could be easily traced. Bearing this in mind, holders of guns will be more careful in handling the weapons.
Besides, blacksmiths, once registered, would be brought under one umbrella and with a little assistance from central government, could even manufacture very sophisticated arms for our security forces and this will reduce monies spent by the government in importing arms. Some of our blacksmiths are very talented and can manufacture very intricate things using metals.
Rita S. Nubabong,
NADMO, Wa
Legalising small arms would be fine since it would rather enable the security agencies to track all those who are involved in the production of small arms, as well as those who own small arms.
I agree that blacksmiths, many of whom are into the production of these small arms, can manufacture other items.
Especially, in our part of the country where majority of the people are farmers they could produce hoes, and other farm implements for the farmers. This, however, should not prevent them from going into the production of guns because the production of gun is also part of their vocation.
When blacksmiths are arrested or prevented from the production of the small arms, I bet you they would rather hide and do these things clandestinely and that would be disastrous for the country.
When this becomes the case, the security agencies would find it very difficult monitoring them. Blacksmiths have been with us over the years and they have been producing these items for so long and so if we say now that they should stop, then what else will they be doing?
What the country should rather do is to intensify activities to reach out to many of these blacksmiths, register them and streamline their activities, especially with respect to the manufacture of small arms.
Even though people will go in for these weapons once they are legalised, at least once the producer as well as the buyer or whoever is using it is known, care would be taken in its handling.
Anyone who misuses guns irresponsibly under the laws of the country must be made to face the full rigours of the law.
This issue of gun manufacture is very thorny and, therefore, has to be carefully and critically delved into before a major decision is taken on it.
George Folley,
Journalist
I think that the manufacture of small arms should be legalised because when this is done, proper records could be kept of all people with such arms. Legalising their production will also enable the security agencies to do thorough background checks on all those who own these weapons.
In contribution to the process, all sellers of ammunition must also be supplied with an ammunitions register where the particulars of both the manufacturers and the buyers would be recorded. This will help keep track of both the sellers and buyers so that in case of any eventuality, the perpetrators could easily be identified.
I think that when small arms are legalised, they must be sold solely to people who would need them for their personal protection. Beyond this, laws on the handling of small arms must be made to work effectively, in order to prevent illegal acquisition and manufacture of such arms.
This will go a long way to ward off people who have the intention of going in for such arms for other reasons including indulgence in criminal activities. Once the trade is legalised, those who produce small arms without permission will have to be dealt with severely.
There is no doubt that small arms manufacturers including blacksmiths have also contributed to the upsurge in armed robbery in the country. Conducting proper background checks on them as well as keeping good records of their activities will go a long way to help minimise violent crimes in the country.
Ghanaians are not used to the domestic handling of guns; as such there is need for intensive education and sensitisation on the proper handling of such arms.
Kwaku Baawine,
Retiree
It will be a very good decision to legalise the manufacture of small arms in the country. The research and development unit of the Ghana Army must be activated to study the manufacture of arms to be able to liaise with local arms manufacturers. If we bring these arms manufacturers out of the closet we will be able to monitor their activities.
It would be just like the forex bureau. When the concept was first brought up many were those who disagreed with it. However, we have now seen the benefits that the country is deriving from the operations of forex bureaux.
Some of these local small arms manufacturers are very talented and if their operations had been legalised many years ago, this country would have been a leading arms producer in the world by now. The very good blacksmiths could be sent outside the country and attached to ballistic experts to enable them sharpen their skills.
The decision to legalise the production of small arms is long overdue. I have been canvassing for this for a very long time. Ghanaians have an attitude of looking at things negatively and criminalising it.
Galamsey operations, for instance, were seen to be very negative but when these were streamlined, whether we liked it or not, it has taken some pressure off the government as far as youth employment is concerned.
We have to start looking at these matters as avenues for employment rather than criminalising them. The arms manufacturers must be well trained, well equipped and guided to support the country.
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