The past several decades have seen a shift in environmental and risk communication that emphasizes harnessing local knowledge to enhance environmental advocacy. As a result, one would expect local advocacy organizations to manifest this shift. Using Friends of the Nation (FoN; a Ghanaian local advocacy organization) as a case study, this research examines how FoN is constructing offshore oil production risks. The study found that FoN uses "whale deaths" as an exemplar of ecological risks associated with offshore oil production, even though in Ghanaian folk culture coastal communities view whale deaths as signs of bumper fish harvest. The article argues that the disconnect between the dominant frame and local meaning system could be explained in terms of FoN’s policymakers-facing as opposed (or in addition) to community residents-facing engagement approach. Recommendations for environmental advocacy are discussed.