Ghanaian arms regulation officials completed a three-day Accra training on exempting transfers from the ECOWAS arms convention.
The session, held from August 17 to 19, 2026, was organized by the Small Arms Division of the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with Ghana’s National Commission on Small Arms (NACSA).
The training brought together representatives from key national bodies involved in the acquisition, procurement, importation, transfer, regulation, authorization, and oversight of arms and ammunition.
Its aim was to deepen understanding of the ECOWAS Exemption Procedure and improve coordination among the institutions that implement it.
Participants reviewed how the procedure has been implemented in Ghana so far, identified challenges, and discussed ways to make the process more effective.
The curriculum covered the regional arms transfer regime, the application process for the ECOWAS Exemption Certificate, the use of relevant documentation, and the roles of different national institutions in preventing the diversion and illicit circulation of arms.
Practical exercises allowed participants to apply what they learned by preparing documentation and working through simulated applications for the exemption certificate.
The training is part of broader ECOWAS efforts to strengthen responsible arms transfer controls and support member states in tackling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.