Speakers at a forum on small arms have appealed to the government to explore the possibility of establishing a small arms industry as a way of controlling the illegal proliferation of such weapons in the country.

The forum was organised by the Volta Region Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to seek views on how to deal with the proliferation of small arms.

Participants included representatives from district assemblies; blacksmiths, chiefs and communities engaged in armed conflicts in the Region and civil society organisations.

Mr Tenasu Kofi Gbedemah, Executive Director of Community Radio Network (CORANET), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), suggested that the country must take advantage of the immense potentials available to develop talents in the trade.

"It is a truism that clamping down on these talented people will only drive them underground where they will continue to manufacture and supply to men of the underworld."

He said there should be a mechanism for monitoring their activities because threats and stiff punishments would not be able to eliminate their operations as in the case of smuggling and drug related offences.

Mr Gbedemah argued that countries that were recognised for producing arms attained that status because they supported their compatriots, who exhibited talents and know-how in that direction.

Mr Erasmus Kosipa, Presiding Member of the Kpando District Assembly, Mr Gregory Gargar from Lolobi, Mr Tsiame Gbedze of Alavanyo-Deme and Mr Daniel Darko of the Kpando branch of Ghana Private Road Transport Union supported Mr Gbedemah.

They said when given official recognition and support by way of patenting and creation of official channels for disposing of such weapons the level of proliferation could be controlled.

Nana Kwadwo Asiakwa II, Chief of Nkonya-Wurupong, said there could be no justification for promoting the production of small weapons in the country because their destructive use could not be curtailed by official recognition.

Mr Hickson Tome, a member of the Regional Consultative Body of the NCCE, called for the creation of regional and district committees on small arms.

Assistant Superintendent of Immigration, Mr Abdul Rashid Bawa suggested that monetary inducements should be used in retrieving small weapons in conflict prone areas.