LocationsLeveraging an integrated approach that synergistically blends preventive actions, confidence-building, law enforcement, stronger multilateral cooperation, community-centred approaches, and sustained investment in institutional capacity
Regional Dialogue on Weapons and Ammunition Management in the Gulf of Guinea
February 13, 2026
Participants of the Regional Dialogue on Weapons and Ammunition Management in the Gulf of Guinea at the at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra, Ghana
UNDP WACA
Accra, Ghana – 06 February 2026: A two‑day Regional Dialogue on Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) concluded on 05 February 2026 at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra, Ghana, bringing together more than 40 representatives from West and Central African States, regional organizations, UN entities, civil society, and technical experts.
Organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), under the UNDP Prevention Facility for the Gulf of Guinea, the dialogue emphasized the growing urgency of strengthening weapons and ammunition management as a frontline strategy for preventing violent conflict, addressing transnational organized crime, and countering violent extremism.
In the context of small arms proliferation in the region, UNDP Resident Representative for Ghana, Niloy Banerjee, on behalf of the regional director of the Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa, noted that, “Africa is estimated to have some 40 million small arms, with West Africa accounting for around 11 million. Ghana alone has approximately 2.3 million weapons in circulation, of which nearly 1.2 million are unregistered or untraceable. These represent real points of vulnerability.”
The UNDP Ghana representative spotted implementation as the greatest challenge, despite the existence of various instruments at global, regional and national levels.
UNDP Resident Representative for Ghana, Niloy Banerjee
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Meanwhile, reiterating the threats posed by weapons and ammunition, the African Union Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, enjoined the experts and officials to confront illicit weapons flows as inseparable components of a single, coherent control architecture. “Let us move from dialogue to action and improve weapons and ammunition management as a central pillar of conflict prevention in the Gulf of Guinea and beyond.” Dr Ibn Chambas stressed the need for concrete actions to curb the phenomenon.
On his part, the host and Commandant of the KAIPTC, Air Vice Marshal David A. Akrong, stressed the urgency of strengthening weapons and ammunition management, calling for an integrated approach that jointly addresses curbing illicit trafficking and promoting sustainable peace. He noted that the gaps in coordination and implementation are rooted in the treatment of small arms and ammunition under separate frameworks.
Participants examined rising regional security threats—including the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), illicit trafficking, and maritime criminality—and discussed the central role that effective WAM can play in reducing violence and stabilising communities. The meeting highlighted the increasing spillover of violent extremism into coastal states such as Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire, and underscored the need for proactive, coordinated responses.
African Union Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas
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The Gulf of Guinea continues to face escalating security threats driven by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their associated ammunition. The regional dialogue addresses to these growing challenges by promoting coordinated, cross-border solutions grounded in prevention, inclusive governance, and human security.
The event builds on global shifts toward integrated weapons and ammunition management, including the adoption of the Global Framework for Through life Conventional Ammunition Management (GFA) and the outcomes of the Fourth Review Conference (RevCon4) on Small Arms and Light Weapons. It provided a platform for states and non-state actors to reflect on emerging threats, share experiences, and align national efforts with global and regional frameworks.
Commandant of the KAIPTC, Air Vice Marshal David A. Akrong
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The dialogue produced practical regional recommendations to strengthen WAM as a frontline preventive tool, enhance state and community resilience, and support the broader peace and security agenda in the Gulf of Guinea and the Sahel. The outcomes included improved understanding of WAM-related risks, enhanced cross-border coordination, and stronger partnerships for sustainable prevention across the region.
This regional dialogue forms part of UNDP’s Prevention Facility for the Gulf of Guinea, an integrated initiative that supports states and communities to address drivers of conflict and violent extremism through proactive, evidence-based prevention strategies.
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Contact details:
Jacob Enoh Eben | Communications Officer | UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa | jacob.enoh.eben@undp.org | Tel.: +221 78 963 61 90 / 77 358 66 62
Emelia Ainooson | Communications and Partnerships Lead | UNDP Ghana | UN House No. 27 Ring Road East (Near Fire Services HQ), Accra, Ghana | emelia.ainooson@undp.org | T: +233 302 215670. Ext.5690; M:+233 544787493