Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has called on countries around the world, particularly State Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction to work more collaboratively to end the thousands of deaths and injuries arising from these mines.

Dr Bawumia noted that the use of improvised anti-personnel mines poses a grave threat to civilians, particularly in conflict-affected regions.

“At least 4,710 individuals were killed or injured by landmines or Explosive Remnants of War in 2022 alone, according to statistics,” Dr Bawumia said describing it as “worrying”.

On Tuesday, 13 February, he challenged participants at the ongoing Regional Conference on Addressing the Humanitarian Impact of Improvised Anti-Personnel Mines to come up with innovative solutions in order to build a future of peace, prosperity and dignity for all.