(Accra – 4-5th February, 2026) The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has convened a High-Level Regional Dialogue on Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM), aimed at strengthening preventive strategies against violent conflict and extremism in the Gulf of Guinea and across West and Central Africa.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Weapons and Ammunition Management as a Preventive Strategy Against Violent Conflicts and Extremism in the Gulf of Guinea and Beyond,” the dialogue was organised under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the Government of Japan. The event brought together government officials, regional organisations, diplomats and development partners.
Opening the dialogue, Ghana’s Deputy Minister for the Interior, Hon. Ebenezer Tei Larbi, described the proliferation of small arms and ammunition as a major driver of insecurity in the region.
“The persistent proliferation of small arms and light weapons coupled with their ammunition continue to fuel armed violence, crime and insecurity. This situation not only undermines governance and development but also destabilises communities,” he said, stressing that the challenge demands “an integrated, comprehensive but also political response” across borders.
He noted that Ghana is taking steps to strengthen national controls, including legislative reforms and a recently concluded nationwide gun amnesty programme, from which authorities are drawing lessons to improve arms control measures.
From a development perspective, UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana, Mr. Niloy Banerjee, warned that the region faces serious vulnerabilities linked to unregistered and poorly managed weapons.
“We are almost well kitted out in the guiding frameworks and toolkits that we need. What we need to do is translate these into action,” he said, highlighting the need to manage stockpiles, improve traceability and build institutional capacities.
He further emphasised that long-term prevention must address underlying socio-economic drivers.
“No community that feels secure needs to resort to this. The reason communities turn to arms is lack of inclusive growth and economic opportunities,” Mr. Banerjee added.
Providing a continental outlook, AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, said the dialogue was timely in light of rising threats linked to the proliferation of weapons and ammunition.
“Our convening here today is more than timely given the rising threat posed by the situation of weapons and ammunitions proliferation in this sector of Africa,” he said.
Dr. Chambas highlighted progress under the African Union’s Silencing the Guns initiative but cautioned that enforcement gaps remain.
“Practical enforcement and capacity remain uneven across the continent and in this case, the Gulf of Guinea,” he noted, calling for more harmonised regional cooperation and integrated approaches that treat weapons and ammunition as interconnected elements.
Welcoming participants, KAIPTC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal David Anetey Akrong, reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to supporting regional and national WAM efforts through research, training and technical assistance.
“This dialogue must serve as a catalyst for concrete actions and renewed commitments that will silence the guns and pave the way for inclusive growth and resilient societies,” he said.
The opening ceremony was followed by a series of panel discussions that discussed the following:
- Preventing Violent Conflict through Arms Control: WAM as a Front-Line Preventive Tool
- The Nexus Between SALW, Insecurity & Violent Extremism
- National Arms Control & PVE Strategies
- Global & regional Normative Frameworks
- Community-Centered Preventive Strategies: Gender and Youth in WAM
- Enhancing Cross-Border Cooperation for Prevention
- Technology, Innovation and Best Practices.
Participants at the dialogue are expected to exchange experiences, share best practices and strengthen partnerships aimed at improving policy coordination, regulatory frameworks and operational cooperation on weapons and ammunition management.
Organisers expressed appreciation to UNDP for its collaboration and to the Government of Japan for sponsoring the dialogue, underscoring the importance of multilateral partnerships in addressing the complex drivers of violent conflict and extremism in the region.