Faith Nyasuguta
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama met with Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, on Monday, for critical discussions on security, economic cooperation, and regional integration. Their talks addressed growing concerns over Burkina Faso’s relationship with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and broader issues affecting West Africa’s stability.
President Mahama acknowledged Burkina Faso’s frustrations with ECOWAS and pledged to present Traore’s concerns at the upcoming ECOWAS summit. He stressed the need to rebuild trust among West African leaders, noting that while this process would take time, restoring confidence was essential for regional cooperation.
The discussions also covered the African Economic Community (AEC), with both leaders emphasizing the importance of strengthening continental economic frameworks to foster unity and development.
Security was a major topic, particularly the spread of terrorism across the Sahel. Mahama warned that the insurgency, which began in Mali, had now expanded to Niger and Burkina Faso, posing a growing threat to the region.
“Terrorism is like a cancer, if we do not confront it collectively, it will spread further across the region,” Mahama cautioned.
The two leaders explored ways to enhance security cooperation, including intelligence-sharing and joint military efforts to counter extremist groups. They emphasized the need for a unified response to prevent further instability.
Economic collaboration between Ghana and Burkina Faso was also a key focus. The leaders discussed several initiatives to strengthen trade, including:
-Improving the transit corridor for Burkinabe importers using Ghana’s ports.
-Facilitating agricultural trade between the two countries.
-Establishing a direct flight route between Accra and Ouagadougou.
Energy cooperation was another major topic. Mahama highlighted Burkina Faso’s acquisition of a storage terminal in Tema and its interest in using Ghana’s pipeline network to transport fuel to Ouagadougou. Discussions also covered expanding Ghana’s electricity exports to Burkina Faso and enhancing the petroleum transit corridor.
The meeting highlighted the commitment of both nations to deeper economic and security cooperation, signaling a stronger partnership amid West Africa’s evolving challenges.
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