WAANSA officials with journalists at the training in Tamale
The West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA)-Ghana, a network of civil society organisations (CSOs) fighting against proliferation of illicit arms in Ghana and West Africa, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) Project, has organised a training for journalists in Tamale on the National Arms Bill of 2023.
The training aims to enhance media awareness, promote responsible reporting practices, and support efforts towards the passage of the bill.
In his opening remarks, the President of the WAANSA-Ghana, Ken Kinney stated that WAANSA Ghana is stretching a hand of partnership to the Ghanaian media to become a critical partner in the advocacy against the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, their ammunition and explosives in Ghana as well as the ECOWAS sub-region.
According to him, conflicts that can be resolved easily so that peace and prosperity can return to once peaceful communities have become chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
He indicated that WAANSA-Ghana has been given an exclusive role under the SALIENT Fund Project to lead in advocacy for urgent legal reforms on small arms in Ghana, to ensure a proper understanding of proposed national legislation, policies and regulations reviews to be aligned with existing international, regional and sub-regional instruments among various national stakeholders in Ghana, and called on the media to be fully involved in the urgent advocacy for the passage of the Arms Bill, 2023 into law at the shortest possible time.
Mr. Kinney was optimistic that the training will build the capacity of media personnel to play active roles in the advocacy for legal reforms on small arms and light weapons control in Ghana. Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Project Coordinator/Facilitator, WAANSA-Ghana / UNDP Saving Lives Entity, urged journalists to avoid sensationalising of graphic images and videos, speculation and rumours which can exacerbate conflict and violence, and rather provide balanced and neutral reportage.
The Managing Director of International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), Johnson Asante-Twum, said there are more than 24 separate laws in Ghana relating to arms and ammunition and that they make separate, parallel or contradictory provisions on various aspects of arms and ammunition management in the country, adding that the laws make it easy to manipulate the arms and ammunition regulatory framework in Ghana.
He recommended sector-wide legal reforms to harmonise the various aspects of arms and ammunition management in the country into one comprehensive document for easy reference.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale