First Committee, 18th plenary meeting on thematic debate on conventional weapons

Linda Kesse Antwi (Mrs)
Counsellor
Conference Room 4,
United Nations, New York
October 24, 2024

FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE ON CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AT THE 79TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Madam Chair,
Ghana aligns herself with the statements delivered during the consideration of this cluster by Nigeria on behalf of the African Group and Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We add the following remarks in our national capacity.

Madam Chair,
A little over a decade ago, the Sahel region experienced some violent extremism, but the scale and intensity were significantly lower compared to the surge in violence we witness today. Today, it has sadly become the most impacted, holding this unenviable position for the last three years. In 2024 alone, the Sahel witnessed 11,200 deaths due to violent extremism, three times the number recorded in 2021, and representing more than half of all fatalities across the continent of Africa. This alarming trend, driven by the illicit arms trade, fuels urban violence, terrorism, organized crime, and drug trafficking, particularly in Central and Western Africa.

While Ghana affirms the sovereign right of nations to acquire and retain arms for purposes of self-defense and national security, we consider it equally necessary to recognize the ties between such rights and the responsibility of States to ensure that such arms do not exacerbate insecurity.

We are particularly concerned by the unchecked proliferation of conventional weapons, especially Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), which has had a profound effect on the destabilization of entire regions, and the protraction of conflicts, insurgencies, and organised crime. While the open nature of borders across our region has positive integration objectives, the challenges relating to its effective management has also enabled illicit flows by criminal networks that have evolved sophisticated transnational strategies to exploit weak border controls.

Madam Chair,
It is in this context that Ghana continues to attach importance to strengthening international arms control frameworks. We welcome the consensual outcomes of the Fourth UN Conference to Review the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, held in June 2024. We are encouraged by the establishment of a dedicated fellowship programme to build capacity in small arms control and by the creation of a funding mechanism to support the implementation of the Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument.

We also appreciate the final report of the Open-Ended Working Group, which adopted the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management and look forward to the upcoming preparatory meeting next year. This framework is a critical step in addressing gaps in ammunition regulation, which continues to pose security challenges at both national and international levels.

Madam Chair,
As a committed State Party to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), Ghana remains dedicated to promoting the responsible trade of conventional arms, ensuring that transparency, accountability, and rigorous enforcement prevent their diversion to illicit actors.

At the continental level, the African Union’s “Silencing the Guns by 2030” initiative remains central to efforts aimed at addressing arms trafficking and tackling the underlying drivers of conflict. Complementing these efforts, the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) plays a vital role within West Africa, mandating strict licensing, arms marking, and export controls. Collaborative efforts with international partners, civil society, and global research centers continue to support targeted and effective interventions across the continent, enhancing peace and security.

Madam Chair,
We remain worried by the devastating humanitarian consequences of cluster munitions, which threaten civilian populations long after conflicts have ended. According to a September 2024 UN publication, children made up nearly half of all people killed and injured by cluster munition remnants in 2023. Ghana stands in solidarity with affected countries and calls for a comprehensive global effort to eliminate these weapons.

Turning to emerging technologies, Ghana notes with concern the development and use of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS). These systems raise serious humanitarian, legal, and ethical questions, which must be addressed through clear regulations. As highlighted in the joint call of the UN Secretary-General and the ICRC, new prohibitions and restrictions on autonomous weapons are needed to mitigate the risks they pose to international security.

Additionally, the increased use of drones by non-state actors, particularly in conflict zones such as the Sahel, poses a significant challenge to human rights and security. Recent uses and the risks they have unleashed highlight the urgent need for international cooperation to regulate these technologies and prevent further destabilization.

Madam Chair,
In conclusion, Ghana emphasizes the need for continued international collaboration to address the risks posed by the unregulated spread of conventional arms. We urge Member States to uphold their commitments and must build on the progress achieved through multilateral treaties. It would not be useful to the cause of peace and security if reconsideration of continued membership in these frameworks is contemplated by States. That would only jeopardize our collective achievements and undo the critical gains we have made together.

I thank you.