Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has called for concerted action by nations worldwide, regional organizations, and key stakeholders to address the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personnel mines. Speaking at the opening of a three-day Regional Conference in Accra, Vice President Bawumia emphasized the devastating effects of landmines and explosive remnants of war on humanity, urging all states that are signatories to the Anti-Personnel Mine Convention to ratify it.
He reiterated the Ghanaian government's unwavering support and commitment to promoting a world free from the scourge of landmines and explosive remnants of war. The Vice President emphasized the need for collective efforts and unwavering determination to confront the menace.
The Regional Conference, organized by the Government of Ghana in collaboration with the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the European Union, and the Anti-Personnel Mine Convention Implementation Support Unit, serves as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of best practices to address the challenges posed by improvised anti-personnel mines globally.
Vice President Bawumia highlighted the core goals of the Anti-Personnel Mine Convention, which include ensuring universal adherence, clearing mined areas, destroying stockpiled mines, and assisting victims. He stressed the importance of compliance with these legal instruments to prevent further human suffering and foster a safer, more secure world for all.
The Vice President urged all states that are not parties to the Convention to strive towards ratification, emphasizing the urgent need for action to address the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personnel mines. He noted that these insidious weapons indiscriminately maim and kill innocent civilians, disrupt livelihoods, impede socio-economic development, and hinder efforts to achieve sustainable peace and security.
Vice President Bawumia's call for global action underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing the humanitarian challenges posed by anti-personnel mines, and Ghana's commitment to promoting peace, stability, and the well-being of all humanity.
