Ghana: Council Reacts to Arms Peddlers' Arrest in Nigeria

Accra Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network in English,   2 Aug 99

[FBIS Transcribed Text] The office of the National Security Council says it has taken a very serious view of the reported arrest of six Ghanaians in Nigeria for allegedly attempting to smuggle a quantity of arms and ammunitions suspected to be shotguns and cartridges into that country. Consequently, a team made up of representatives of security agencies has been dispatched to Nigeria to assist with   investigations within the framework of existing agreements on cooperation aimed at curbing the proliferation of small arms in the west African subregion.

A statement signed by the minister for national security, Kofi Totobi Quakyi, said the team, which is being led by Ghana's high commissioner to Nigeria, J. Y. A. Kofi, is expected to obtain first-hand information from the Nigerian authorities on the circumstances surrounding the alleged importation of the arms and ammunition to help with investigations in Ghana.

Meanwhile, the importation of small arms and ammunition, including shotguns and cartridges by licensed arms dealers has been suspended with immediate effect. In addition, there is to be an immediate freeze on sales of existent stocks pending an inventory of all stocks held by private arms dealers and a review of procedures for their acquisition and registration. Further measures to control the possession and use of various types of arms will be announced in due course.

[Description of Source: Accra Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network in English--State-owned, government-controlled radio]