PROHIBITION AND PREVENTION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
Philip P. Purpura define weapons of mass destruction as something capable of inflicting mass casualties or destroying or rendering high value assets as useless. Although chemical, biological , nuclear and radiological weapons often serve as example of WMD, the WMD became painfully in September 11, 2001 where thousands of people were killed. Weapons of mass destruction provide some purity between natural and man-made events as our cities, states and country look to the future.
Weapons of mass destruction has been in the system since at least 1937, when it was used to described massed formation of bomber aircraft. During the cold war, the united states, the Soviet Union and other major powers built up enormous stockpiles containing tens of thousands of nuclear bombs, missile war heads and artillery shells.
Many military and diplomatic standoff of that era was sometimes described as a “balance of terror”. Chemical and biological weapons at the same time also amassed stockpiles.
Chemical weapons consist of liquids and gasses that choke their victims and disrupt their nervous system. The biological weapons where more emphasis will be place contain natural toxic or infectious agent such as bacteria, viruses or fungi, sprayed over populated areas, they might cause limited but severe outbreaks of deadly disease as anthrax and smallpox.
It is know that biological weapons have not been used in modern war since the Japanese spread plague infected lice in areas of China during World War II, but it is know that both biological and Chemical agents can be prepared, packaged, delivered and set off have raised fears that they might become the weapon of choice of terrorist
BIOLOGICAL WEAPON
Biological weapons use micro-organisms or natural toxics produce disease in humans’, animals or plants. To act as a weapon, pathogens need a means for transmission. Delivery by boobs or missiles is possible but not necessary. For example, a country might contaminate food and water supply and use insects exposed individual to spread a pathogen.
GHANA ACTION PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION ON WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
The Republic of Ghana hereby submits its National Implementation Action plan pursuant to its obligation under the United Nation charter and in aspiration for peaceful coexistence with member state. In 2007, Ghana submitted it first report to the United Nation.
Ghana has worked extensively on expanding and strengthening its existing legislative and regulatory framework related to the control, production and transfer of chemical, biological and toxic materials.
Ghana over the years has embanked on a member of initiatives cutting across legislative measures through institutions reform to emergency response among them is Anti-Terrorism Act, 2008 (Act762), Anti-Terrorism Regulations LI2181(2012), Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008 (Act749) are all measures put in place in Ghana to check and deal with people who engage in weapon of mass destruction.
Biological weapons Bill is in drafting process in order to prevent the use of biological weapons in Ghana.
GHANA AND UN RELATION ON PROHIBIT OF WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION
In October 4, 2016, Ghana expressed it support for United Nation General Assembly Conference to discuss a universal and legally binding instrument that will prohibit the use of nuclear weapons and their total elimination.
It was affirmed that the only way to prevent non-state actors in the country from having and using weapons of mass destruction is by eliminating nuclear weapons and strengthening the prohibition against biological weapons.
Apart from the political commitment and action to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons which is likely to generate biological weapons in Ghana as well as the world, the conference also seek to establish general prohibitions and obligations to prevent biological weapons in Ghana and the world at large. the threat Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) posed to humanity and the environment is of serious concerns to the international community and charged all States to strengthen measures to prevent non-state actors, especially terrorists from acquiring either WMD, the materials or technologies related to their manufacture and their means of delivery.
Considering the role of women in practical disarmament measures is another way to deal with biological weapons, increased technical assistance and capacity building to support the mainstreaming of gender perspectives in disarmament and arms control
Writer, Mr. John Agbevem