WAANSA Ghana commends media for upscale security reporting

The West African Action Network on Small Arms, Ghana (WAANSA Ghana), on Tuesday commended Ghanaian media for what it described as an upscale and more purposeful approach to security reporting, particularly on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and the growing threat of violent extremism in Ghana and across the West African sub-region.

In a statement issued and signed by WAANSA Ghana Administrator and Project Coordinator Mr. Francis Ameyibor, he said the improvement in reportage followed a nationwide capacity-building and engagement programme for media personalities held last year and undertaken by WAANSA Ghana under the UNDP SALIENT Fund Project.

Mr. Ameyibor explained that WAANSA Ghana’s intervention was designed to equip journalists with the knowledge, tools, and ethical grounding needed to report accurately on complex security issues without amplifying fear or misinformation.

"Following our engagement with media practitioners across the country through the UNDP SALIENT Fund Project, we have seen a marked enhancement in reportage, especially on issues that complement the efforts of national security agencies," stated Mr. Ameyibor, who is also the Vice President of the West Africa Network of Journalists for Security and Development.

He noted that the media remain the first line of defense in providing timely tips and information that support intelligence gathering, community awareness, and public vigilance.

Mr. Ameyibor emphasized that the illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons continues to undermine peace and development, not only in Ghana but across the 15-member ECOWAS region.

WAANSA Ghana, therefore, warned that porous borders, armed robbery, communal conflicts, and the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel have made the control of SALW a matter of urgent national and regional security.

"Extreme terrorism and the rapid access to illicit weapons are no longer distant threats. They are regional realities that demand sustained media attention, informed public discourse, and decisive policy action," Mr. Ameyibor said.

WAANSA Ghana urged journalists to sustain and deepen their focus on investigative and solution-driven reporting that exposes trafficking routes, highlights community impact, and holds duty bearers accountable.

The network also expressed concern over the delay in the passage of Ghana's National Small Arms Bill, describing it as a critical legal instrument needed to regulate the manufacture, importation, possession, and use of firearms.

"We are calling on the media not to sleep on the delayed National Small Arms Bill. We must all follow it until it passes, and then we continue to educate the public on the law," WAANSA Ghana urged.

It explained that once enacted, the bill will strengthen Ghana's compliance with the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and provide law enforcement agencies with clearer mandates to curb illicit arms.

WAANSA Ghana said public education after passage will be critical to making sure communities understand the provisions and their role in supporting enforcement.

Reaffirming its commitment to the media, WAANSA Ghana pledged its continuous support through training, access to data, and collaboration with security institutions to ensure reporting is factual, balanced, and security-conscious.

"The fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is a collective one. The media has proven that it can shape narratives that protect lives. We count on you to keep the momentum," WAANSA Ghana added.

WAANSA Ghana membership includes The Development Institute (The DI), Global Arms Control Advocates (GACA), the Centre for Rural Women in Peace, Security, and Development; the Greater Accra Youth Network; BADEC; Nutifafa Foundation; the Care-Love Charity Foundation; and Peace Africa.

Others are the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA); the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC); the Center for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana); and the West Africa Network of Journalists for Security and Development.

The rest are the Orphans and Widows Association; the Security Warehouse; West Africa Lead; the Nurture Nature Foundation; Youth for Peace and Security in Africa; and the Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building.

WAANSA Ghana is a network of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and media entities working within the peace, security, and governance space and serves as the local chapter of the subregional body of the West Africa Action Network on Small Arms.

WAANSA Ghana also serves as the Ghana focal point of the West African Action Network on Small Arms, a regional civil society network working to reduce the availability and misuse of illicit weapons and to promote peace and human security across West Africa.

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