Journalists schooled on proliferation of illicit small arms

 The West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA)-Ghana, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have organised a media empowerment workshop in Kuma­si to address the proliferation of illicit small arms in Ghana.

The event focused on the National Small Arms Bill 2023, aimed to equip journalists with knowledge and skills, to report on small arms and light weapons issues effectively.

Its primary objective was to advocate the passage of the Arms Bill 2023 into law, and provide a comprehensive framework for arms governance in Ghana.

The bill seeks to address gaps in Ghana’s arms governance regime, aligning laws with inter­national conventions such as the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Mr Ken Kinney, President of

 WAANSA-Ghana, emphasised the importance of media involvement in advocating the passage of the Arms Bill 2023.

He highlighted the devastating effects of explosives in the Ashanti Region and ongoing violent conflicts in northern Ghana and West Africa, fueled by easy access to small arms, ammunitions, and explosives.

He noted that a well-informed media could play a critical role in shaping national discourse and promoting responsible reporting practices.

Mr Kinney said that media reportage on SALW faced several challenges, including limited access to information, lack of expertise, pressure from special interest groups, risk of harm or intimida­tion, and complexity of SALW issues.

 He also mentioned that these could lead to inaccurate or biased reporting and serious consequenc­es. Mr Francis Ameyibor, Project Coordinator for the UNDP Saving Lives Entity, said “the media plays a crucial role in promoting peace and security. But irresponsible reporting can exacerbate conflict and violence.”

To promote responsible and accurate reporting on SALW, he recommended that media outlets and journalists should receive train­ing and capacity building on SALW issues, be held accountable for their reporting, and receive support and protection from governments and NGOs.

Mr Ameyibor again stressed that “the media must be held accountable for their reporting through fact-checking and verifica­tion, corrections and apologies for inaccurate reporting, transparency and disclosure of sources and methods, and independent media councils and regulatory bodies.”

He then urged media outlets and journalists to adhere to best practices such as seeking multiple sources, verifying information, avoiding sensationalism, providing context and using accurate and neutral language.

Mr Johnson Asante Twum, Managing Director of the Inter­national Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), mentioned that in October 2020, the European Union suspended Ghana for hav­ing weak Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism laws (AML/CFT)

He said Ghana’s Arms legisla­tions was identified as one of the weakest that “it does not prevent money laundering the financing of terrorism”

 FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, KUMASI

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