The Ghana Army School of Ammunition and Explosives (GASAE), on July 3, concluded its Weapons Marking and Registration Course 1/25 with a closing ceremony held at the Yogiba Grunshie Mess, Michel Camp.

The initiative, which was held in collaboration with the Hazardous Areas Life Support Organization (HALO Trust), aimed at strengthening national weapons and ammunition life-cycle management.

According to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the course aligns with the country's efforts to meet international standards in arms accountability and to ensure full traceability of military weapons within the force and other security institutions.

Course participants drawn from GAF units as well as the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NaCSA) received comprehensive training in workshop layout design, weapons marking techniques, safe storage procedures and the use of weapons marking machines.

Weapons Marketing Specialist at the HALO Trust, Mr David Hutchison lauded the participants for their dedication and professionalism.

He noted that the course plays an integral role in advancing the shared goal of strengthening human security through effective weapons and ammunition management capacity development.

In his closing address, Commander GASAE, Colonel Francis Laapo, highlighted the need for robust weapons identification and control in the context of Ghana’s evolving security environment.

He said the Ghana Armed Forces is undergoing a transformation that demands stringent control to ensure weapons do not end up in the wrong hands.

Colonel Laapo announced that henceforth weapons would be marked at GAF Headquarters before distribution to improve arms traceability and accountability.

Colonel Laapo said the course represents a forward-looking step in pursuit of effective and sustainable arms control measures through inter-agency cooperation and capacity building.

He urged participants to preserve the knowledge and certificates acquired, as their role in enforcing arms management protocols would be vital in ensuring Ghana’s internal security.

About HALO

The HALO Trust is the world’s largest humanitarian landmine clearance organization leading efforts to protect and save lives and restore communities and livelihoods of those threatened by the deadly debris of war.

Founded in 1988 and backed by the UN, US, and UK governments, HALO locates and destroys landmines, cluster bombs, explosive items, and dangerous stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, as well as educating locals on how to stay safe in contaminated areas.

Per its website, HALO currently employs over 9,000 locally recruited staff in 26 countries and territories around the world who have paved the way for the development and long-term stability of their homelands.