Government has commenced the legal process to back the existence of the National Peace Council (NPC) with an Act of Parliament.
The move is to enable NPC to play its role of conflict resolution and peace building more effectively and efficiently.
Mr Martin Amidu, Minister of Interior, disclosed this at the opening of the third West Africa Network on Small Arms civil society forum in Accra last Monday.
The forum which seeks to review the continuous impact of the proliferation of small and light weapons on the continent, is dubbed "Peace and Security in West Africa: The impact of small Arms and light weapons".
It would among other things serve as a platform for participants to share ideas on issues relating to small arms proliferation and its control.
Mr Amidu said government had already ratified the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and the United Nations Convention on cluster Munitions.
He said, "Peace and security is the business of all and sundry and to ensure that it is attained in the sub-region all hands must be on deck.
"West African States have recognized that since small arms and light weapons are easily trafficked across boarders, concerted efforts need to be taken to combat and eradicate the illicit trade.
"Efforts in closer collaboration in terms of border management across the sub-region should therefore be vigorously pursued since regional efforts could be undermined by weak controls in other jurisdictions.
"It has been observed that whereas nations can at the level of the Security Council talk peace and prevent large scale invasion and acts of aggression with states and across borders, there still lurks a persistent source of danger because of easy availability of small arms and light weapons."
Mr Baffour Dokyi Amoa, President of WAANSA, said the proliferation and misuse of small arms continued to threaten the security of people and nations in West Africa.
He said small arms were the main weapons used in armed robberies, drug trafficking, local wars, terrorism and violation of human rights.
"This situation leads to serious physical and psychological wounds on large sections of the population, displacement and breaking of families and communities, the collapse of economies and the destruction of the environment."
Mr Amoa said over 70 per cent of the youth globally were employable yet there were no jobs and that this had led to the incidence and growth of armed robbery, drug trafficking and human trafficking which is fuelling armed violence which is, no doubt, retarding development in our region.
Mr Amoa expressed hope that the forum would help develop effective strategies on small arms to sustain peace and security on the continent.