WAANSA Ghana unveils new technical structure to boost fight against illicit small arms

The West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA Ghana) has announced a major restructuring of its operations with the appointment of 17 Technical Leads to strengthen advocacy, research and community engagement in the fight against the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons across the country.

The network said the new structure is aimed at making its interventions more targeted, evidence-driven and community-focused while intensifying advocacy for the passage of the National Small Arms Bill and expanding public education on the dangers of armed violence.

Speaking on the initiative, WAANSA Ghana Administrator and Project Coordinator, Francis Ameyibor, said the restructuring marks the first phase of a broader transformation of the organisation into a modern, technology-driven advocacy institution.

According to him, the network is moving away from a general advocacy model to a specialised sector-based approach, with each Technical Lead serving as the focal point for a specific stakeholder group.

“This restructuring is about impact and legitimacy. To stop the flow of illegal weapons, we must work through the institutions that shape norms, policy and security at both the community and national levels,” Mr Ameyibor said.

Under the new structure, a Technical Lead for Chiefs' Affairs will engage traditional authorities and councils to promote peace, discourage illegal arms possession and coordinate community dialogues and peace durbars.

A Technical Lead for Queen Mothers' Affairs will work with women traditional leaders to strengthen grassroots advocacy, with a focus on the impact of arms proliferation on women, children and families.

WAANSA Ghana has also established Technical Leads for Christian Affairs and Muslim Affairs to collaborate with churches, the Christian Council, the Office of the National Chief Imam, Islamic councils and mosques to incorporate peace and arms control messages into sermons, khutbahs and other public outreach activities.

On governance, the Technical Lead for Governance Institutions Affairs will coordinate engagement with Parliament, ministries, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Electoral Commission (EC), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Judiciary to advance policy reforms, including the passage of the National Small Arms Bill.

The Technical Lead for Security Institutions Affairs will strengthen collaboration between civil society and security agencies, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defence and the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA), to support enforcement, intelligence sharing, public education and joint campaigns.

To ensure advocacy is supported by credible evidence, the Technical Lead for Think Tanks Affairs will work with universities and research institutions to generate policy recommendations and translate research findings into practical guidance for policymakers and security stakeholders.

Civil society coordination will be led by the Technical Lead for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Affairs, who will support member organisations and consolidate their contributions to national, ECOWAS and United Nations small arms initiatives.

Recognising the importance of youth engagement, WAANSA Ghana has also created a Technical Lead for Youth Groups Affairs to mobilise students and young leaders for peer education programmes and social media campaigns.

A Technical Lead for Women and Children's Affairs will ensure gender perspectives remain central to the network's work, particularly on issues relating to domestic violence and the protection of children affected by armed violence.

In an innovative move, the network has introduced a Technical Lead for Blacksmiths Affairs to engage metalworkers' associations in efforts to discourage the illicit manufacture of firearms while promoting alternative livelihoods and supporting voluntary weapons surrender initiatives.

The Technical Lead for Media Affairs will coordinate engagement with television, radio, print, online and social media platforms to enhance public awareness and promote a culture of peace.

With elections often associated with heightened security concerns, the Technical Lead for Political Parties Affairs will work with political parties to promote peaceful campaigns and discourage the use of weapons before, during and after elections in line with national laws and ECOWAS protocols.

To strengthen sustainability, the Technical Lead for Donor Partners Affairs will focus on mobilising support from bilateral, multilateral and private development partners while producing technical briefs and impact reports to attract strategic investment.

Mr Ameyibor observed that Ghana continues to face significant challenges from the illicit circulation of small arms, which fuel communal conflicts, armed robbery and election-related violence.

He said the restructuring reflects WAANSA Ghana's determination to transform civil society advocacy by integrating technical expertise with traditional, religious, governance and security institutions.

“The fight against small arms cannot be won in conference rooms alone. It will be won in palaces, in churches and mosques, in classrooms, in workshops, and in the media,” he said.

WAANSA Ghana has called on government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and the public to support the implementation of the new structure and prioritise the passage and enforcement of comprehensive small arms control legislation to enhance peace and security across the country.