Ghana has acknowledged the harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA), committed to action against it, and taken an active role in encouraging other states to do the same.
Statements
In 2017, Ghana endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of EWIPA, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a political declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to do the following:
- “Encourage collection of data and information to increase awareness and enhance knowledge about the impact of explosive weapons on civilians in populated areas;
- Avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas;
- Fully support the process that will lead to the negotiation and adoption of an international political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas;
- Promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians;
- Constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts;
- Foster deeper and further engagement from African States and facilitate increased involvement as a group of States;
- Continue and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organizations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support;
- Channel contributions to the draft international political declaration on the matter, as well as engage in advocacy, at national, regional and international levels.”[1]
Ghana also endorsed the joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[2] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of EWIPA on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international political declaration on this issue.[3]
Political declaration
Ghana supported the process towards a political declaration on the use of EWIPA and the protection of civilians and civilian objects in armed conflict at the United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[4] At the United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2020, it reiterated this support saying “we are encouraged by the inclusive consultative process initiated by Ireland to develop a political declaration in addressing the humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). We call on all stakeholders to show genuine political will towards such innovative measures for the protection of civilians and civilian objects in armed conflict in compliance with international humanitarian law.”[5]
[1] INEW (2017). ‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. https://dev.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/.
[2] INEW (2019). ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. https://dev.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.
[3] Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations (2019). ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA)’. https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.
[4] Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations (2019). ‘UNGA74 First Committee Statement’. https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/24Oct_Ghana.pdf.
[5] Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations (2020). ‘UNGA75 First Committee Statement General Debate’. https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/14Oct_Ghana.pdf.