Monrovia – The Special Representative of the President of ECOWAS, Ambassador Babatunde O. Ajesomo has reaffirmed his commitment to peace and security in the sub-region indicating that ECOWAS is working tirelessly with a range of partners and Governments to address situations of insecurity in the ECOWAS sub-region.
Speaking during the opening of a Validation Workshop held by the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms in Grand Bassa from March 16-19, he underscored the need for thinking and planning strategically if the war against small arms proliferation was to be won and called for increased and sustained support to LiNCSA in order to control SALW in the country.
Also gracing the occasion was Mr. Robert Dorliae who represnted the UNDP Country Director, Mr. Lacina Barro, Cluster Coordinator of the ECOWAS-EU SALW Project, Hon. Adonie Greaves, Development Superintendent of Grand Bassa County and Buchanan City Manager, Hon.Bobby Wilson.
In welcome remarks, Mr. Bobby Wilson, brought greetings from the City Mayor, and expressed delight at the selection of Buchanan for such an important working session of the Commission.
LiNCSA’s Coordinator, Josiah Joekai in his introductory remarks described the objectives of the workshop saying, “This workshop is primarily intended to review, finalize and adopt the Commission’s draft strategic plan, and management SOP’s.”
Making remarks for UNDP, Mr. Robert Dorliae extended compliments on behalf of the Country Director whom he said was unable to attend the occasion due to a prior official engagement. “UNDP is looking forward with interest to this process as it would contribute largely to how LiNCSA does business in the face of competing partner interests” he commented..
For his part, the Grand Bassa Development Superintendent Hon. Adonie Greaves said he was honored to be a part of this very important occasion because of the importance he attached to the issue of small arms.
Speaking further, Hon. Greaves said he understood that what the Commission was about to do was much more about institutional strengthening, observing that this was the right way to begin.
Speaking at the close of the workshop, the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. James M. Fromayan thanked participants for the level of success achieved. He further stressed the need to fully implement the stipulations in the documents, he stated: “All the good work we have established today will have no relevance if we do not implement what we have agreed to in these documents; all your hard work would have been in vain.”
For his part, Commissioner Benoni Knuckles reminded participants that the documents will be enforced to the letter and employees should not hesitate to report violations. UNDP Small Arms Coordinator, Mr. Lacina Barro expressed satisfaction about the level of success the workshop achieved and assured the Commission of UNDP’s continuous support.
By the end of the workshop, LiNCSA validated its three-year Strategic Plan and a set of key Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as part of ongoing efforts to improve the Commission’s operational and management capacity.
The SOPs include Employees’ Code of Ethics and Conduct, Financial and Accounting Policy, Recruitment Policy and Asset Management Policy. The four-day workshop organized by the LiNCSA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program as part of the ECOWAS-EU support framework on Small Arms to Liberia. The workshop brought together senior management of the Commission, consultants and a technical support team from UNDP.
The Liberia National Commission on Small Arms was established by an Act of Legislature passed in August 2012, with the general mandate to formulate policies and ensure the implementation of such policies and measures aimed at addressing the problem of the proliferation and illicit manufacturing, use, distribution, possession and trafficking of small arms and light weapons.