Ghana Urged to Heighten Border Security Following Deadly Attack on Traders in Burkina Faso

Security Analyst and Executive Secretary of the Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission, Dr. Adam Bonaa, has called for heightened security alertness at Ghana’s borders following a deadly attack on Ghanaian tomato traders in northern Burkina Faso.

He stressed that although Ghana has not recorded any terrorist incident, developments in neighbouring countries require vigilance at all entry and exit points to prevent possible infiltration by extremist elements.

Dr Bonaa’s comments follow confirmation by Ghana’s Embassy in Burkina Faso that Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an extremist group operating in the Sahel, has been linked to last Saturday’s assault on Ghanaian traders in Titao.

The attack reportedly targeted trucks transporting tomato merchants from Ghana. According to a statement issued by the Ministry for the Interior, several trucks were set ablaze, male traders and drivers were killed, while female traders were spared.

The ministry reported that Titao has experienced repeated armed attacks since 2019, as militant groups persist in destabilizing northern Burkina Faso. The area continues to be one of the most volatile regions in the Sahel.

Dr Bonaa underscored the need for collective responsibility in combating terrorism.

“You can see America is landing troops in Nigeria and providing firearms and ammunition. This tells you no country can fight terrorism alone. As a country, everyone must be alert,” he said.

He assured the public that Ghana remains safe but expressed condolences to families of the victims.

“At the Small Arms Commission, we will continue to play our role to ensure that illicit firearms do not get into Ghana. If they do, we will ensure they are seized and the perpetrators arrested,” he stated.

Dr Bonaa explained that small arms were reportedly used in the attack, reinforcing the urgency for Parliament to pass the Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill to strengthen the commission’s mandate.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso is liaising with local authorities to visit the attack site, identify affected Ghanaians and provide support to survivors.

The Ministry for the Interior has pledged to update the public as soon as verified information on victims and survivors becomes available.