Be responsible in reporting on small arms and light weapons issues- WAANSA

 Mr Francis Ameyibor

The Coordinator for the West Africa Network on Small Arms and Light Weapons (WAANSA) Ghana/UNDP Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) Project, Mr Francis Ameyibor, has appealed to journalists to be responsible in reporting on small arms and light weapons issues in Ghana.

He cautioned journalists against sensationalism, which can exacerbate conflicts and violence in Ghana. He stressed that accurate and balanced reporting promotes peace and stability.

Francis Ameyibor said this during a training workshop organized by West Africa Network on Small Arms and Light Weapons (WAANSA) Ghana for selected journalists in Kumasi.

The workshop, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) project, sought to effectively equip journalists with knowledge and skills to report on small arms and light weapons issues.

The participants, who also included executives from the Ashanti Regional Association of Blacksmiths, gained insights into the complexities of small arms and light weapons issues, including their impact on communities.

In his presentation, Francis Ameyibor, also the Vice President of the West Africa Network of Journalists for Security and Development, said that the media is crucial in shaping public opinion and influencing policy decisions on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW).

He stated that media reporting on SALW faces several challenges, including limited access to information, a lack of expertise, pressure from special interest groups, the risk of harm or intimidation, and the complexity of SALW issues.

According to Francis Ameyibor, these challenges can lead to inaccurate or biased reporting, which can have serious consequences.

“To promote responsible and accurate reporting on SALW, media outlets and journalists need to be empowered with training and capacity building, access to information and resources, support and protection from intimidation and harm, and encouragement to report on SALW issues, he said.

“To promote accountability in the reporting of SALW, media outlets and journalists need to 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 added.

In promoting responsible and accurate reporting on SALW, Mr Francis Ameyibor appealed to media outlets and journalists “to adhere to the best practices of seeking out multiple sources, verifying information, avoiding sensationalism, providing context, and using accurate and neutral language”.

The President of West Africa Network on Small Arms and Light Weapons (WAANSA) Ghana Mr Ken Kinney, in his welcome address, called on the media to partner with them to advocate in the fight against the proliferation of illicit small arms, light weapons, ammunition, and explosives in Ghana.

He noted that the on-going violent conflicts in the northern part of Ghana and other parts of the West Africa region are fueled by easy access to small arms, ammunition, and explosives, an indication of poor arms governance regimes.

With that, Mr Ken Kinney appealed to the media to be fully involved in the urgent advocacy for the passage of the National Small Arms Bill 2023 into law at the shortest possible time.

“After the training, we want the media personnel to play an active role in the advocacy for legal reforms on small arms and light weapons control and adapt a strategic media plan for lobbying and advocacy for legal reforms in small arms and light weapons in Ghana,” he stated.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah