Ghana’s new defence cooperation agreement with Burkina Faso is facing an immediate test from traders who say they remain uncertain about how the security arrangements will work in some of the most dangerous areas of Burkina Faso.
The Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association has questioned the practical implementation of the agreement, particularly a provision for security personnel to escort traders along key cross-border trade routes.
The concerns come as Burkina Faso continues to battle a severe jihadist insurgency that has disrupted trade and transportation across large parts of the country.
Eric Osei Tuffuor, chairman of the Ghanaian traders’ association, told the BBC that many of the areas where Ghanaian traders source tomatoes have already been designated as security hotspots, with authorities advising people against travelling there.
“They bombed one of our trucks. It has been there for two years now,” Tuffuor said, explaining that he had petitioned Ghana’s diplomatic mission for assistance in recovering the vehicle but had received no meaningful response.
