Waves of Change: How Local Media Are Rewriting Stories of Peace in West Africa

November 10, 2025

Across West Africa, local media and journalists are playing a transformative role in reshaping public discourse, fostering inclusion, and promoting peaceful coexistence in communities affected by conflict and marginalisation. From the airwaves of Burkina Faso to the mobile journalism of Ghana, powerful stories are emerging—stories that challenge stereotypes, elevate marginalised voices, and build bridges of understanding. In a region often portrayed through the lens of conflict, these media champions are reframing the narrative—one story at a time.

Radio Flambeau: Lighting the Way in Burkina Faso

“All religious denominations have a space to share messages that promote peace and unity,” says Mathias Segda, as he sits in Soumagou, a small town near Tenkodogo in Burkina Faso’s Nakambé region. Radio Flambeau 102.6 FM is doing more than broadcasting; it is building bridges. Led by its passionate director, Segda, the station has become a beacon of hope in a region grappling with insecurity and displacement. Segda proclaims: “We want our radio to be a platform for solidarity and sustainable development.”

With a reach of over 1.5 million listeners across 30 communes and 10 provinces, Radio Flambeau is more than just a source of news. It’s a trusted platform for dialogue, education, and healing. The station airs programs on health, agriculture, culture, and the environment, but what truly sets it apart are its shows dedicated to peacebuilding, including mediation efforts on marginalisation by religious and traditional leaders.

Segda first found his motivation for the project after attending a UNDP training on preventing radicalisation and violent extremism. However, afterwards, Segda took his mission even further.

Inspired by the training, he and his team produced 18 micro-programs and a 10-episode series focused on dialogue and cultural knowledge around peace. These stories showcased how communities once divided could come together through understanding and empathy.

Listeners say the programs have helped reduce tensions and combat hate speech. “Our welcoming attitude toward internally displaced persons is partly thanks to the radio,” says Tarnagda Baoré, a local farmer. “The programs helped us see that we are all human, and we must support each other.”

A group of elders and children sat outside listening to the radio

Three hosts at a radio show desk with microphones; colorful patterned shirts.

community members discussing the value of credible news and information

Even the village chief, His Majesty Tik Taab Mpaam Panga, credits the station for fostering conversations and opening up the community to new ideas. “Radio Flambeau helps maintain contact and, above all, fosters conversations among us here,” he affirms.

One story stands out for Segda: a Muslim elder, moved by a radio program, changed his stance on interfaith marriage and supported his daughter’s union with a Christian. “He came to thank me personally,” Segda recalls. “That’s the power of storytelling.”

Reframing the Fulbe Narrative in Ghana.

Meanwhile, in Ghana’s Upper West Region, journalists are challenging long-standing stereotypes about the Fulbe community – a historically nomadic group spread across many West African countries. In Ghana, they face negative perceptions that undermine their Ghanaian identity, resulting in social and political exclusion. For years, the Fulbe have been portrayed negatively in mainstream media, often linked with conflict and criminality. However, that narrative is now changing, thanks to journalists like Suala Abdul Wahab and Rafiq Nungor Adam.

Suala, a senior journalist with Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), had a wake-up call when he was mistaken for a Fulbe at a police checkpoint. The experience made him reflect on how media coverage had contributed to the stigmatisation of the Fulbe. “The media are often the worst perpetrators of stereotyping,” he says. “Until you allow the other side, your report will be one-sided.”

After attending a UNDP-supported training on conflict-sensitive journalism and hate speech prevention, Suala shifted his approach. He collaborated with fellow journalist Emmanuel Missa and an academic from Simon Diedong Dombo University to produce a balanced, fact-based story on the Fulbe. Instead of emphasising negative stereotypes, he chose to highlight the Fulbe’s contributions to Ghanaian society and their ongoing struggles against marginalisation. He drew on the expertise of colleagues such as journalist Emmanuel Missa, who had long reported on minority issues, and a lecturer from Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD UBIDS), whose research on the Fulbe provided critical context.

The piece aired on GBC’s Real Time Live and received widespread praise: from listeners, colleagues, and the Fulbe community itself. “Through the training and the story, many of my colleagues in the Upper West Region have changed their perceptions,” Suala notes. “Now they know not to take a one-sided story as the gospel truth.”

Person with patterned poncho and hat, holding a handheld radio; camels in the background.

Rafiq Nungor Adam, working as a freelance journalist in Northern Ghana, proves that you don’t need fancy equipment to make an impact. Armed with just a smartphone and a tripod, Rafiq documents stories that matter, especially those that amplify marginalised voices.

His recent coverage of a stakeholders’ meeting in Wa Municipality, where traditional leaders and security agencies gathered to promote peaceful coexistence, highlighted the Fulbe community’s call for unity. “Peace is the foundation for development,” said one community member during the meeting. “And dialogue is the bridge to understanding.”

By verifying every detail and focusing on dialogue, Rafiq ensured the message reached the public with clarity and credibility. “Fact-checking helps me report accurately,” he says. And it’s this commitment to truth that has earned him respect across communities. Members of the Fulbe community expressed appreciation for the shift in narrative. “For the first time, we felt seen and heard,” said a Fulbe elder interviewed during the program. “The story showed that we are not just victims or suspects—we are part of this country.”

Media as a Catalyst for Peace

From Burkina Faso to Ghana, these stories demonstrate how local media, whether through radio or mobile phones, can be powerful tools for peace and dialogue in West Africa. They remind us that storytelling is not just about sharing information; it is about transformation. When journalists and broadcasters choose to emphasise empathy over division, and truth over stereotypes, they help communities heal. They foster understanding, build resilience, and create space for dialogue.

These stories are a testament to the power of responsible journalism and community-driven media in building peaceful societies. As conflict and polarisation persist across West Africa, media professionals have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to act as agents of change. When journalists, broadcasters, and media houses embrace inclusive storytelling, they challenge harmful narratives and elevate voices that promote unity.