Experts react to ‘guns for cash’ initiative in Bawku

A Conflict Management and Resolution Expert, Emmanuel Bombande, says though the initiative of the Ministry for the Interior to exchange cash for guns as a measure to end the Bawku conflict is laudable, resolving mistrust and root causes are critical. 

He said the value of the cash and one's security will be a factor which will be considered by those involved. 

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Small Arms Commission, Jones Afle, has disputed claims that handing over weapons for money would lead to a boom in the weapons trade. 

He said the move is rather intended to reduce the number of weapons in the society. 

Mr Afle was speaking to Radio Ghana in Accra. 

He was reacting to criticisms on the Interior Minister's call for the people of Bawku to hand over their weapons for money. 

Mr Afle also explained that security is in place to ensure that what happened in Sierra Leone whereby people bring old weapons for cash will not be repeated here. 

GBC