President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ghana Armed Forces to evacuate Ghanaian traders injured in a deadly insurgent attack in Burkina Faso for continued medical care in Ghana.
The President disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking at the maiden Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition in Accra, describing the incident as a grim reminder of worsening insecurity across the sub-region and its implications for cross-border trade and regional integration.
According to Mahama, the victims—Ghanaian traders who had travelled to Burkina Faso to purchase tomatoes—were ambushed by armed insurgents while transacting business in a rural community. “Armed insurgents and terrorist groups attacked them, and unfortunately, we lost a number of our compatriots. Thankfully, a few survived,” he said.
He added that arrangements are underway for the injured to be medically evacuated to Ghana. “On behalf of the government, I extend our condolences to the families of those who were killed or injured,” the President stated.
Mahama noted that Ghana and Burkina Faso share long-standing trade ties, particularly in agricultural commodities such as tomatoes and onions, calling the incident deeply unfortunate.
At least seven Ghanaian traders were killed on Saturday when Islamist militants attacked Titao, in northern Burkina Faso. The victims were part of a group of 18 traders who had entered the town to buy tomatoes.
Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, said the attackers stormed the area, separated men from women, and opened fire, killing most of the men and setting them and their truck ablaze.
The bodies of the deceased, which were reportedly burnt beyond recognition, have since been buried.
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