Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
HEAD O FFICE:
P
. O. BOX 72 95
ADUM-KUMAS
I
GHANA, WEST-AFRICA
TEL:
+ 233 -3 22 0-80 42 8/2 71 64
CRADA
CHILD RESEARCH FOR ACTION AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
MOB
; + 233 -0 20 -8 22 01 51
FAX: + 23 3-32 20 -2 71 64/ 29 72 8
Ema il:c ra d a g ro up _g ha n a @ya h o o.c o m
c hild la b ou r_p ro je c t@ya h oo .c o m
(The Rebirth o f Mea ning to Child’ s Life)
www.c ra d a g ro up .o rg
RESEARCH PROJECT ON: ARMED VIOLENCE, SMALL ARMS REDUCTION AND HUMAN
SECURITY PROJECT
PROJECT COMMUNITIES: ABOABO AND ALARBAR
BAN KERS:
Barclay s Bank,Stanchart
Pre mpeh II Stre et, Adum
Prudential Bank Ltd. A dum
Adansi Rural Bank
Fante Ne w Town
CRADA DOC.
ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL CHILDREN THROUGH:
capacity building; research; advocacy; awareness creation; psychosocial r ehabilitation;
consultancy ser vices;development education; information & communication technology ( ICT);
youth & cultur e; micro-credit scheme;publication & documentation; tr aining & networking
Location:Old Bekwai Road, Plt 127 Blk. E Near GANOS LODGE Ahodwo -Daban New Site.
1
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
Executive Summary
Ghana is continuing with measures to enviously guard its enviable record chalked in the field of good governance
and vibrant press freedom in an atmosphere of relative peace. This is because the prevention of conflicts through the
control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) has been recognized by development partners as a prerequisite
for development.
Small Arms have been the main instrument of violence in most developing countries, with Ghana being no
exception. Intelligence sources in Ghana have revealed that the threshold of proliferation of illicit SALW is among
others the production of locally made illegal weapons, which satisfies local demands by traditional hunters and
peasant farmers. The local manufacture of small arms has grown in sophistication and intensity to meet the growing
demand by citizens who require them for self-protection as a result of general insecurity and also unfortunately by
criminals for robbery and other criminal activities.
The police in Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti Region are keen to crack down on the internal production of arms,
which provides the bulk of guns used in the armed robberies that have become a growing problem in the capital. “If
you take five armed-robbery cases, four – or four-and a- half – will have used locally manufactured arms,” said
Rashid Yakubu, of the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), which works for greater
controls of the manufacture and trade in small arms.
Armed gangs are increasingly terrorizing wealthier suburbs of Kumasi and other newly developing areas, and in some
cases the guns are more than a threat. The incidents have instilled a sense of fear in some neighbourhoods where
high, razor-wire-topped walls have failed to keep out the gun-toting criminals. To curb the rise in armed crime, the
Ghana government and other key stakeholders and partners have repeatedly implemented measures to crack down
on the production and circulation of small arms. Nonetheless, there remain some 100,000 illicit weapons in
circulation, according to the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms. A Social Development Psychologist and a
Soft System Analyst, Nana Antwi Boasiako Brempong of Child Research for Action and Development Agency
(CRADA Group), a non-governmental organization working for the welfare of the vulnerable and excluded in rural
and urban underserved communities has re-echoed the need for government to take fresh stock of how to deal with
the clandestine gunsmiths, because the clampdowns had done little more than push the gunsmiths further
underground. It is realized that not every blacksmith in Kumasi particularly Aboabo and Alabar, conflict sensitive
twin communities, where the proposed project is to be implemented want to be a gunmaker. Instead, some labour
longer hours to earn good money, knocking crumpled car parts back into shape, while some, on the majority side, in
these communities are tempted to make guns because they want to be rich overnight. There is therefore the need to
educate and sensitize the blacksmiths particularly gunsmiths about the negative effects and the dangers associated
with the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) to sustainable human development and advance to
design and implement an alternative livelihood scheme for local blacksmiths to fulfilling the long term plan of
helping them re-direct their skills and expertise in more human friendly ventures.
While we take sensitive actions to deal with the issue at the local level, urgent call for effective and efficient
collaboration with all stakeholders to cover both legal and illegal transfers as well as control the brokering, licensing
and transit of small arms – is part of the efforts to address the problem. Although there will always be a demand for
weapons, effective control of the trade would significantly curtail the supply of guns, which is an important first step.
CRADA DOC.
2
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
1.1 Introduction and Background
Small arms are the instruments of modern violence. The global trade in these weapons is scarcely regulated, and
continues to fuel both armed conflict and violent crime. Until transfers of small arms are controlled, and limited, the
human costs and the implications for long-term development will continue to be devastating.
All the ten regions in Ghana possess the skills to produce small arms. Nevertheless, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Volta
Regions, are some of the three regions that appear to stand out as hosting a particularly high concentration of
blacksmiths and artisans who are skilled at producing small arms and light weapons. Extensive studies conducted by
Emmanuel Kwasi Aning, a former professor at the University of Ghana, on the manufacture of small arms in Ghana
revealed that there are some 2,500 blacksmiths with gun-making capacity in the central Ashanti and Brong Ahafo
regions alone. The studies further revealed that a decent traditional hunting rifle can cost as little as US$4.50,
according to Aning’s research, while a locally produced semiautomatic machine gun – something like an AK-47 –
would cost as much as US$93.00
In fact, no meaningful development can take place in nations/communities that are bedeviled with the activities of
small arms and their related problems. Indeed, small arms and light weapons have become weapons of mass
destruction, causing about half a million civilian deaths every year with its devastating effect on women and children,
the most vulnerable in society. This has prompted CRADA Group’s participation in this call for proposal to educate
and sensitize the general public about the negative effects and the dangers associated with the proliferation of Small
Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) to sustainable human development. Influence public opinion on the need to
create a peaceful and stable environment as a pre-condition for accelerated development and also focus on designing
and implement an alternative livelihood scheme for local blacksmiths (gunsmiths) to fulfilling the long term plan of
helping them redirect their skills and expertise in more human friendly ventures.
1.2 Problem Statement
The Small Arms Survey estimated that 300,000 people are shot dead over the course of a year. Gun homicides
account for around 200,000 of these deaths, the majority occurring in Latin America and the Caribbean, while 60,000
to 90,000 people are killed by small arms in conflict settings. In many contemporary conflicts, civilian deaths
outnumber those of combatants.
While men are the primary perpetrators, and indeed victims, of armed violence, vulnerable groups are often
disproportionately affected. Women and children are killed and injured in great numbers. Many are victims of sexual
violence committed at gunpoint, and they usually constitute a large number of those forcibly displaced by armed
violence. Gender is a critical factor in determining the nature of the impact of armed violence.
For children, armed violence can mean a lost childhood. Particularly in countries afflicted by conflict, generations of
children may never see the inside of a classroom, may not have adequate access to healthcare or food. These
consequences, combined with the disabling effects of small-arms injuries and the psychological trauma of witnessing,
experiencing or perpetrating violence, will have knock-on effects for the rest of their lives. The loss of opportunities
in turn will make children more vulnerable to exploitation and forced migration.
CRADA DOC.
3
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
1.3 A Situational Analysis of Aboabo and Alarbar twin communities
1.3.1 Kumasi Metropolis
Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti Region and the second largest city in Ghana is located between latitude 6°41’N and
longitude 1°36’W, and covers an area of 220 square kilometers. The current population is estimated to be 1,170,270,
which comprises of 587,501, (50.1%) males and 583, 810 (49.9%) with a growth rate of 5.4%. The district’s share of
the total regional population is 32.5%. Being a metropolis, it is totally an urban district. The urban proportion
therefore is 100%. The population is heterogeneous in ethnicity and religion. Ashantis, Fantis, Northerners and
migrants from all the other parts of the country populate the area. The unique central location of the city as a
traversing point from all parts of the country makes it a special place in terms of the social, economic, cultural and
political life of the country. Apart from this, the city is endowed with rich history and beautiful cultural heritage. The
metropolitan economy is dominated by the service or commerce sectors employing about 71% of the labour force. It
is followed by the industrial and agricultural sectors with 24% and 5% respectively.
The conflict prone twin communities Aboabo and Alabar lie at the eastern part of the city of the Kumasi Metropolis.
They have a very high population density when compared with the other cities on average. The communities have an
average of about 36.72 persons per square km The high population density in these communities are attributed to its
slums dwelling situation dominated mostly by people from the three northern regions with high poverty and illiteracy
rates. This has consequently created overcrowding and over indulgence in social vices, exerting pressure on existing
socio-economic and sanitation infrastructure and anti- social problems are widespread, loose occupancy is high, there
is high rate of environmental degradation as people dispose waste indiscriminately, thereby putting a lot of stress on
the resources of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. The conflict prone twin communities are known for its high
crime rate, indiscipline, armed violence, hooliganism and unemployment. There is also high rate of illegal businesses
such as money laundering, blacksmith (gunsmith) and “419 businesses”, due to the inhabitants’ propensity to
become rich overnight.
A larger proportion of children from these communities are truants and school dropouts who engage in exploitative
labour and beg for alms on the street while women and the aged sit by the road side, entrance to the mosques and
market places from dawn to dusk begging for alms from passers-by. CRADA Group implemented a Child Labour
project in these communities with funding from the US Department of Labour (USDOL), under Co-operative
Agreements [E-9-K-2-0048 and E-9-K-4-0005] with Winrock International (WI) in June 2005 to February 2007.
In spite of all these, the social environment continues to provide and present hazards to adolescent health and
development. However, given the various factors such as the individual, family and community that influence the
advancement to lessen tension in these conflict sensitive communities, CRADA Group interventions stand a good
chance to provide supplementary support to the Government of Ghana to address the increasing proliferation of
illicit small arms and light weapons and to reduce the potential for armed violence in these conflict sensitive
communities.
CRADA Groups’ initiative calls for effective and efficient collaboration with relevant key stakeholders, governmental
and non-governmental institutions (public-private partnership), religious groups, women’s and youth-led groups,
chiefs and assembly members, unit committees, etc to unionize and pursue a common end to stimulate sustainable
human development by optimizing local resources to contribute to an arms free society.
CRADA DOC.
4
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
1.4 Project Aim, Development Objective and Immediate Objectives
1.4.1 Project Aim
Contribute to conflict prevention through the establishment of a mechanism to provide support to the
Government of Ghana (GoG) to address the increasing proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons and
to reduce the potential for armed violence.
1.4.2 Development Objective
To lessen tension in conflict sensitive twin communities (Aboabo and Alarbar, both suburbs of Kumasi
Metropolis) through;
a) awareness raising and public education and
b) design and implement alternative livelihood scheme for local blacksmiths (gunsmiths) all within a time
frame of three months (from Sept 2007 to 10th Nov 2007) .
1.4.3 Immediate Objectives
The specific objectives and inputs to achieve the development objective are:
1. to identify and mobilize stakeholders and key partners support to confront Small Arms and Light
Weapons (SALW) proliferation to create an arms free society.
2. to assess the underlying factors and structural causes of the situation.
3. to eliminate the socio-economic barriers that impede the development of vulnerable groups, especially
young people (thus, help them draw a connection between what they value and what they do to make a
living) by:
• encouraging young people and blacksmith to form mutual groups (thus, blacksmiths encouraged to organize
themselves into well recognized groups to form a community or regional association to present a formidable front.) to
benefit from the project
• improving economic and living conditions of the target group via capacity building, participatory decision making to
manage community affairs, and on having a larger voice in decision making that affects their lives.
4. to sensitize the communities and create awareness via public education campaigns about the dangers
associated with illicit arms and on the need to reduce the demand for weapons by:
• encouraging students of first and second-cycle students as well as inhabitants of communities to establish WeaponFree Clubs or Societies to help the communities renounce violence and use dialogue to resolve disputes.
5. to develop efficient and effective production methods to enable local Blacksmiths to shift their focus
from the production of small arms to that of other socially-beneficial tools for peaceful purposes and
which have ready markets, examples being plough blades for farmers and hand-cuffs for the Police, etc.
6. to assist them mobilize their own resources to better enhance and improve their living conditions to curb
the problem of unemployment and idle living, which create illicit trading resulting in conflict and armed
violence at the detriment of human security.
1.5 The Proposed Intervention
CRADA Group’s project intervention would use a variety of social investigations (baseline survey) to aid
National Policy Development on SALW, community sensitization and public awareness education, women and
children empowerment, social mobilization tools, capacity building to address the issue of blacksmiths and illicit
production, stockpile management/arms collection and destruction etc to address the increasing proliferation
of illicit small arms and light weapons and to reduce the potential for armed violence. The following activities
would be undertaken: CRADA DOC.
5
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
•
•
•
•
•
Using already existing structures, leaders and key informants of the target beneficiaries (i.e. the chiefs
and elders, churches, religious leaders, teachers, Assembly members, Unit Committee members, clan
heads of households), youth-led & women groups, blacksmiths association, weapon-free clubs to help
the communities renounce violence and use dialogue to resolve disputes. To sustain the project (these
associations/clubs would be established as part of the implementation process to mobilize target groups
and provide support services to benefit from the project.
Social mobilization, awareness creation and public education campaigns, using community durbars,
meetings, group and interactive discussions with key actors, drama, radio discussions and messages,
stories, workshops, IEC materials such as banners, T– shirts, public talk and debate, newspaper
publications, marches and film show etc to create and sustain awareness of the project and the
importance of creating arms free society to enhance community development
Using existing institutions such as Ashanti Regional Association of Blacksmiths [ASHRAB], which
is currently the best organized in the country or creating new ones (Weapon Free Club or Society) to
assist with the project implementation. Experience has it that development interventions are most
sustainable when it is owned or supported by effective local institutions. Following this knowledge,
CRADA will do the best it can to work with the chief and elders, Assembly persons, religious bodies,
CBOs, trade and economic associations where they exist to speed up the implementation process. The
participating institutions would internalize the process and more possibly own the project to enhance
sustainability.
CRADA would use dialoguing and negotiations in its interactive engagements with target groups such as
(blacksmiths) gun makers, parents/guardians, youth-led groups, community leaders, policy makers to
enhance the success of the project. For instance there would be negotiation with owners of small
arms/weapons, blacksmiths (gunmakers), parents/guardians to aid in the process of arms collection and
for possible destruction while there would be negotiation with the Metropolitan Assembly to formulate
and promulgate byelaws to control the proliferation of SALW.
CRADA as an institution advocates sharing responsibility, work and the rewards of small group life.
Groups provide the vehicle by which the individual can make a contribution to the organization and
society as a whole. To us therefore, small group work is too important to be left to chance. It is also the
belief of CRADA Group that the quality of our lives and the joys we experience as human beings can be
enhanced immeasurably by the interpersonal and small group relationships that our members
experience. CRADA Group also believes that the dignity of individuals comes not only from basic
needs but also from people’s contributions to something greater. The project though has short
implementation period will work hard to encourage group efforts to reduce the potential of armed
violence in the two communities by urging blacksmiths to join ASHRAB. The ASHRAB will enhance
the process of identifying their needs which will facilitate the rationalization of support from the Ghana
National Commission of Small Arms (GNACSA), Development Partners and other organizations.
Further assistance will be sought to enable us take the group through leadership/good governance,
conflict resolution, good parenting and communication skills training. The rest include:
marketing/credit management skills training, bookkeeping, numeracy and literacy courses, and skills
needed to stay focused and grow in numbers and in strength. CRADA, under the project will
collaborate with Micro Finance Institutions, Rural Banks, Savings and Loans Agencies etc to ensure
acquisition of credit (prompt disbursement) and its recovery to pave way for more disbursements to
blacksmiths to engage in the production of socially-beneficial tools for peaceful purposes and which
CRADA DOC.
6
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
have ready markets. The group will also ensure absolute accountability and results for the use of credit
assistance. CRADA believes that though the concept would have the ability to empower blacksmiths,
however, it will be linked consciously and judiciously to the issue of vulnerable and excluded (women
and children), to enhance their total development.
1.6 Target Group
The primary target beneficiaries are artisans such as Blacksmiths, those in possession of small arms and light
weapons in conflict sensitive communities.
Indigenous, peasant, rural farmers especially men and youth who patronize the sale of SALW for selfprotection as a result of general insecurity and criminals for robbery and other criminal activities.
The entire community members involved are indirectly beneficiaries in that better educated community
members may result in using dialogue and negotiation to resolve conflict to avoid armed violence.
The secondary target groups are the facilitators of change at the community, national and international
levels. These include traditional and religious leaders, other opinion leaders in the community, Assembly
and Unit Committee members, and the Ghana Police Service, the media, etc. Involving them as
stakeholders and strengthening human and social resources go a long way to increase the community’s
participation and ownership thereby contributing to long term sustainability of efforts.
1.7 Identification of Target group
The project will use Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) or better still Participatory Rapid
Assessment (PRA), tools to conduct a baseline survey to gain the information necessary for project
implementation and to establish the baseline for monitoring and evaluation of programme activities. Both
qualitative and quantitative methods will be used including a survey of blacksmiths and focus group discussions
with community members and youth-led groups and in-depth interviews with key informants. The study will
involve the community in characterizing armed violence, small arms reduction and human security issues and is
the first step in mobilizing the community members to address their own situation. The information gained
will enable us identify the level and profile of conflict and armed violence in the target areas. This will include;
the background of the beneficiaries, the conditions that necessitated the proliferation of small arms and
weapons in the beneficiary communities and documentation thereof.
1.8 Project Key Partners
• The Ghana Police Service (GPS)
• The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA)
• The Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC)
• The Media (both Electronic and Print)
• The Religious and Traditional Authorities (RTA)
• The Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs)
• The Assembly and Unit Committee Members
CRADA DOC.
7
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
2.0 Implementation Plan
Goal
Objective
Collaboration
Meeting with
key partners
Community
entry
to
conduct
baseline
survey
and
Social
Mobilization
Community
Sensitization
and
Public
CRADA DOC.
1. Exchange ideas on each
parties
roles
and
responsibilities under the
project
2. Clarify all issues relating to
the MoU
3. Assess resources to be made
available to CRADA in the
discharge of her duties
areas
of
4. Discuss
collaboration
5. Exchange ideas on the broad
strategies to be employed by
all parties that will lead to
synergy in stakeholder effort
to implement the project
1. To collect necessary data on
those communities to serve
as a baseline for evaluation
2. Identify target groups in the
communities, arrange times
and venues for the proposed
activities
3. Equip CRADA with certain
specific
first-hand
information that will enrich
the
planning
of
its
interventions and for project
evaluation in the beneficiary
communities.
Activity
Collaborators/P
artners Meeting
Conduction of
Baseline Survey
to
gather
information to
enhance
promulgation of
byelaws
Target
Person
Responsible
CRADA
Local CoordinatorGovernment
CRADA,
Authorities (LGA),
Local
Micro
Finance Government
Institutions, Security Representative
Agents,
Religious
and
Traditional
Authorities,
the
media,
Assembly
and Unit Committee
members, Youth-led
groups, ASHRAB
Community
members,
Blacksmiths(gun
makers), youth-led
groups, people in
possession
of
SALW,
women’s
groups,
opinion
leaders, heads of
households, chiefs
and religious leaders,
Assembly and Unit
Committee members
1. Sensitize the communities Community and Community
about the effect of conflict group meetings, members,
and armed violence
durbars, floats, Blacksmiths(gun
Time Frame
Output
2 days
All issues relating to the
project clarified
CRADA,
2 weeks
Kumasi
Metropolitan
Assembly,
Assembly
and
Unit Committee
Members,
Religious
and
Traditional
Authorities
CRADA,
Kumasi
Metropolitan
3 weeks
8
Baseline data analyzed and
documented
Communities and group to
work with identified and
necessary
arrangement
done
for
the
commencement of the
project.
Public Awareness Raised
through public education
to
alert
community
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
Awareness
Education
Campaign
Capacity
Building
to
address
Blacksmiths
illicit
SALW
production
Dialoguing
and
Negotiation
Arms
Collection and
Destruction
Consultative
Meetings with
target groups
to formulate
and
promulgate
byelaws
CRADA DOC.
2. Explain
the
project
interventions
and
operational
areas
to
beneficiaries
3. Identify the target groups in
the
community
and
encourage them to rally
support to the project or use
existing structures in the
communities to engage in
interactive
discussion
(initiate
one-on-one
discussion with blacksmiths
and those in possession of
SALW
1.
Develope
alternative
livelihood
scheme
in
collaboration with Micro
Finance Institutions (MFIs)
to help Blacksmiths and
other marginalized groups
focus on production of
socially-beneficial tools for
peaceful purposes
2. Dialogue and negotiate with
target groups to willingly give
up their SALW for possible
destruction.
3. Destruction
of
SALW
collected and celebration
thereof
1. Community meetings with
target groups to formulate
byelaws
to
curb
the
proliferation of SALW in the
targeted communities
drama, etc (social makers), youth-led
mobilization
groups, people in
activity)
possession
of
SALW,
women’s
Production
of groups,
opinion
Information,
leaders, heads of
Education and households, chiefs
Communication and religious leaders,
(IEC) materials Assembly and Unit
to enhance on Committee members
our
advocacy
efforts
Assembly,
Assembly
and
Unit Committee
Members,
CRADA, CBOs,
FBOs, churches,
Security
Agencies,
the
media, Chiefs
members to the issue at
stake
Community
members
especially target group are
more enlightened about
the effects of armed
violence
and
tension
lessened
in
conflict
sensitive twin communities
(Aboabo and Alarba)
3 weeks
Livelihood skills
training to redirect them into
the production
of worthy tools
to
enhance
development
Negotiation and
Dialoguing skills
Training
for
target groups
Public
destruction
of
SALW
Consultative
Meeting
formulate
byelaws
Blacksmiths
(gunsmiths)
and
other
vulnerable
groups,
Women’s
groups.
CRADA Group,
MFI,
Kumasi
Metropolitan
Assembly,
Community
members especially
blacksmiths
or
gunsmiths,
other
community
members
Target groups and
to other
community
members in the
Project beneficiary
communities
Community
members
developed
a
better
approach to life and
business and draw a
connection between what
they value and what they
do to make a living.
Better negotiation and
dialoguing skills employed
to resolve disputes instead
of armed violence
Arms collected destroyed
in public
CRADA,
1 week
Security
Agencies E.g the
Police Service,
LGA, Chiefs and
other CBOs
2. To assess progress of Project
activities and the way Assessment
Byelaws
on
SALW
formulated
and
promulgated to curb its
proliferation
in
the
targeted communities
Bottlenecks identified and
way to correct the
9
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
Participatory
Monitoring
and
Evaluation
Documentatio
n of activities
CRADA DOC.
forward
To
monitor and evaluate
project activities in targeted
communities to enable us
document best practices and
lessons learned to enhance
policy formulation
Compare situations before
project implementation and
afterwards with information
gathered
Meeting
Monitoring and Community
Evaluation visits members especially
organized
target groups in the
project beneficiary
communities
Report writing
CRADA staff
Team Leaders
2 weeks
Team Leaders
3 days
10
specified
Participants are equipped
with skills to monitor their
activities against plans
Monthly, and end of
project reports submitted
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
2.1 Expected Outcomes/Impacts
The following outcomes/impacts are anticipated to achieve the project objectives;
• Wide array of key actors mobilized and their capacity built for a strategic response within the first month
of project period
• Baseline information established through baseline survey to identify blacksmiths and community
cohesion documented to enhance on project within the first month of implementation period
• Memorandum of Understanding signed with identified blacksmiths to stop the manufacture of small
arms/weapons to engage in the production of socially-beneficial tools to make a worthy living within the
second month of the project
• Community sensitization and public awareness campaign organized to highlight issues concerning the
negative implication of armed violence which has come about as a result of the proliferation of SALW.
This will make them consider joining seriously the fight against illicit SALW which is expected to result in
the community members playing a very significant role in its reduction through community durbar, float,
church gatherings, radio messages, public talk and debate/IEC materials.
• Availability of policy guidelines and promulgation of byelaws on SALW at community level initiated.
• Significant reduction in SALW due to high level community members’ participation rate in the project
and obliging in the collection of arms and weapons for possible destruction.
• Economic opportunities increased by 10% through availability of credit assistance to poor indigenous
people, blacksmiths to improve upon their living conditions.
• 85% of community members developed a better approach to life and business and draws a connection
between what they value and what they do to make a living.
• Community members are more pro-active in community development issues and resort to dialoguing and
negotiation as a possible means to resolve disputes instead of using armed violence, which has a negative
impact on development.
• Gained a solid understanding of the concepts and issues surrounding armed violence, small arms
reduction and human security.
• Documentation of best practices and lessons learnt on conflict and armed violence, shared among
contemporary organizations to influence decision-making and policy debate.
CRADA DOC.
11
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
3.0 Project Control/Project Evaluation
A collaborative research efforts form an intrinsic part of the processes and evidence would be provided as to what is
happening based on data collection. Both processes not only ensure that project is made accountable to all
stakeholders, but also provide operational feedback to ensure strategic re-orientation and enhancement of specific
interventions. For these reasons, a participatory monitoring and evaluation approach would be vital to CRADA’s
systematic project strategy development and implementation. The Management Information System (MIS) will
be developed in collaboration with community partners to ensure that information required for measuring project
progress is collected and that all indicators important to stakeholders and feasible for collection are incorporated. The
project will first and foremost establish a baseline of information, which would become essential for identifying
changes.
By this approach there would be a joint monitoring by CRADA, Assembly and Unit committee members, ASHRAB
to monitor their own affairs and other local authority implementing partners such as representatives of KMA, GPS,
RTA and some community members. The Monitoring Team and other interested stakeholders would be involved in
this exercise in order to get independent views on the project. It would also allow the community members
especially the blacksmiths to make better use of their own capacities and resources. This would enable the
monitoring team internalize the process so that they could help the community and the AHSRAB to carry the project
forward after CRADA’s involvement with the project ends.
The Monitoring Team would monitor and evaluate among others:
• Blacksmiths do not clandestinely go into SALW production and that people do not employ armed violence to
resolve disputes again.
• Whether the project objectives and activities are being achieved
• Full participation and the involvement of the community and other key shareholders
• Issue of effectiveness and efficiency of project implementation
• Compare results to outcomes
• Lessons learnt and best practices documented
• Project reaching its target population (coverage)
• Mechanism put in place to check sustainability and the readiness of the community to continue the fight
against proliferation of SALW, armed violence to enhance community development.
It is hope that the monitoring and evaluation activities would help check the progress of work and also examine
deviations as well as challenges and opportunities that could be used to reduce or improve the project design as well
as improve the chances of project success and its sustainability.
3.1 Sustainability of the Project
The project will work with a wide array of actors such as Kumasi Metropolitan Assemblies, The Ghana Police
Service, the media and Focal Persons from relevant sector departments, ASHRAB, traditional rulers such as chiefs,
queen-mothers, elders who are custodians of the land and who serve as community entry points and religious leaders
such as pastors, pastors’ wives, Imams, women’s and men’s-led groups, including volunteer groups, communitybased groups etc in the communities and empower them to assume their specific roles in the onward implementation
of the project at the grassroots level. This will ensure that the project approach becomes more participatory and
community-driven and further contribute to its sustainability process. The inclusion of the local authorities and
CRADA Doc.
Conflict and Armed Violence,
small arms reduction and human security
in Aboabo and Alarbar, suburbs of Kumasi
sector departments in the implementation process is necessary since they provide supplementary support both
technically and financially to the project and further assist in the formulation of better policies and also contribute to
its sustainability afterwards. The project officers will make regular visits to the beneficiary communities and project
target groups especially blacksmiths (gunsmiths) to follow up on progress.
4.0 Conclusion
The Government of Ghana and Ghana National Commission on Small Arms give special recognition to the fact that
the present political stability and accelerated socio-economic development are contingent on peaceful atmosphere,
which can be seriously undermined by such instruments of violence as small arms and light weapons, when they are
in wrong hands. It is, therefore, the utmost responsibility of all development partners and peace loving people to
adopt robust and realistic measures for the persistent removal of this menace, notwithstanding the daunting
challenges.
The fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons will continue to be relentless but with support
from our Development Partners, and in collaboration with Civil Society Organizations, other stakeholders, and the
International Community, there is strong conviction that the battle will be won. In fact, transferring competences and
resources to local community level in the decentralization process can make a positive impact aimed at contributing
to conflict prevention and provide support to the Government of Ghana to address the increasing proliferation of
illicit small arms and light weapons and to reduce the potential for armed violence.
CRADA Doc.