The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has held a one-day training workshop to equip transport operators with the skills to detect and prevent the illicit transportation of arms, ammunition and explosives.
The initiative, aimed at enhancing national security and addressing the growing threats of criminals using passenger vehicles to move dangerous materials, was held at the commission’s head office in Accra, on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Adam Bonaa, emphasised the critical role of transporters in Ghana’s development, noting that road transport remains the country’s primary mode of mobility, but also carries the risk of facilitating the movement of illicit arms.
The training focused on teaching operators to recognise suspicious behaviours and items, such as weapons or explosives concealed in everyday luggage.
“The purpose of this workshop is to alert transport operators to potential risks. What should they be looking out for? They need to be vigilant for individuals like Kwesi, Mensah or Salifu, who may exhibit subtle signs we’re trained to detect, but they may not be. The goal is collaboration—to ensure they understand they could unknowingly be transporting explosives.
“Many operators have never seen dynamite or grenades. How would they recognise if someone is transporting weapons, not as whole units but in parts? For instance, an AK-47 could be disassembled and transported across four or five vehicles. That’s the essence of this training,” he said.
Dr Bonaa stressed the potential for devastating outcomes, including “secondary explosions” in bus collisions where some buses carry explosive elements, usually without the knowledge of transport operators.
“Sometimes, bus collisions result in both vehicles being destroyed, and you wonder what happened. In some cases, buses are innocently carrying explosives, and a fire or trigger causes a chain of explosions—what we call secondary explosions—resulting in loss of life. Villagers might report hearing explosions, and entire communities are devastated.
“Today’s training equips operators with the skills to detect, prevent and alert security agencies like the police or national security when they observe suspicious activity. If they see something, they must say something by contacting us,” he added.
The workshop, attended by major transport organisations, as well as sector agencies such as the Ministries of Transport and the Interior, is part of the Commission’s mandate to sensitise the public and train stakeholders.
Dr Bonaa noted the commission’s plans to extend the training to other regions, seeking support from the media and well-wishers to amplify public education efforts and ensure a safer Ghana amidst regional instability.
BAI/AE
