The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for a full investigation into the killing of Ghanaian traders in northern Burkina Faso, describing the attack as deeply troubling and a threat to regional commerce.
The traders were ambushed on February 14 near the town of Titao, in an area plagued by extremist violence. The victims, most of them women engaged in tomato trade, were reportedly travelling as part of routine cross-border business activities when gunmen suspected to be linked to Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) opened fire. At least eight Ghanaian nationals were killed, with several others sustaining injuries.
Speaking on the sidelines of a regional security meeting in Accra, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, condemned the attack and stressed the bloc’s support for a comprehensive inquiry to bring those responsible to justice. He underscored the need for strengthened cross-border security cooperation to protect traders and safeguard livelihoods.
In the aftermath of the assault, the Ghana Armed Forces evacuated three injured victims to the 37 Military Hospital for specialized medical care.
President John Mahama has since expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and assured the public of government efforts to engage Burkinabe authorities to ensure accountability and enhance the safety of Ghanaian nationals operating abroad.
The attack has heightened concerns about insecurity in the Sahel and its spillover effects on trade within West Africa. Analysts warn that continued violence along key trade corridors could disrupt food supply chains and deepen economic vulnerabilities for small-scale traders who depend on cross-border markets for survival.
ECOWAS says it remains committed to working with member states to strengthen regional security frameworks and prevent further tragedies.