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GASAE Concludes Weapons Marking and Registration Course 1/25

• 04 Jul
• Admin

The Ghana Army School of Ammunition and Explosives (GASAE), in collaboration with The Hazardous Areas Lifesupport Organization (HALO) Trust, has successfully concluded Weapons Marking and Registration Course 1/25. This was a key training initiative aimed at strengthening national weapons and ammunition life-cycle management.

The closing ceremony, held at YOGTIBA GRUNSHIE Mess, Michel Camp on Thursday, 3 July 2025, marked a significant milestone in Ghana Armed Forces' commitment to sustainable arms control and enhanced human security.

The course aligns with Ghana’s broader efforts to meet international standards in arms accountability and to ensure full traceability of military weapons within the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and other security institutions.

Participants received comprehensive training in workshop layout design, weapons marking techniques, safe storage procedures, and the use of weapons marking machines. Trainees were drawn from various GAF units as well as the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NaCSA), to ensure the rollout of standardised marking procedures across all Garrisons and zones of operation.

The Weapons Marketing Specialist of HALO Trust, Mr. David Hutchison praised 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, underscored the urgency of robust weapons identification and control in the context of Ghana’s evolving security environment. Emphasizing that the Ghana Armed Forces is undergoing a transformation that demands stringent control over their weapons to ensure they do not end up in the wrong hands. He stressed that weapon marking is no longer optional but rather, a national security necessity.

Colonel Laapo noted that, with technical support from The HALO Trust, the course has equipped participants with critical skills to operationalise weapons marking across all military formations. He announced that, moving forward, weapons will be marked at GAF headquarters before distribution, as part of a broader initiative to improve arms traceability and accountability throughout the force. He said the successful course represents a forward-looking step in GAF 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 will be vital in ensuring Ghana’s internal security.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to all participants. Special recognition was given to three individuals who were certified as trainers. These certified trainers drawn from the Ghana Armed Forces and NaCSA will spearhead the decentralisation of the marking programme and support its nationwide implementation.