Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my fear as a citizen in respect of a recent news publica­tion in the Ghanaian Times indicating there are about two million illegal small arms in circulation in Ghana.

This was disclosed last Wednesday by the Deputy Head of the Conflict Manage­ment Programme, Ms. Afua Lamptey at a forum organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), dubbed: “Preventing and Containing Violent Extrem­ism” at the Kofi Annan International PeaceKeeping Training Centre.

If the statistics are any­thing to go by, then I must say it is quite alarming for such a number of illegal arms to be circulating in the country, looking at the ongoing terrorist threats in our neighbouring countries and the rising conflicts in the northern part of the country.

This to a great extent is a threat to our national peace and security, considering that the Ghana Police Service also recently arrested some individuals including security operatives for selling firearms and ammunition at Alajo in the Greater Accra Region.

We are aware the Police and other security agencies have intensified surveillance but I believe more needs to be done in tightening secu­rity in all entry points to the country. We must not let our guards down.

As a concerned citizen, I am perturbed about who has got their hands on these illegal arms and the purpose for possessing them.

I urge the government and other stakeholders to step up efforts in retrieving these arms in circulation to prevent any violent situation and ensure that we keep enjoy­ing the peace we have in our country.

Evelyn Naadu Borquaye,

Nungua, Accra.