Mahama breaks silence on Ghanaian Tomato traders caught in Burkina Faso terrorist attack

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Makay
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President John Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has finally broken his silence following the killing of seven Ghanaian tomato traders in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso on Saturday, February 14.

John Mahama expressed his deep regret over the killing of Ghanaian tomato traders, noting the rising insecurity in the subregion.

According to Mahama, GAF is arranging a medical evacuation for Ghanaians injured in Burkina Faso so that they can continue to receive treatment in Ghana.

President Mahama, on behalf of the government and the Ghanaian people, sent his condolences to the families of those who were either killed or injured.

Speaking at the Ghana Tree Crop Investment Summit in Accra on Tuesday, February 17, President Mahama stated, “And unfortunately, we lost a number of our compatriots. Thankfully, there are a few survivors. The Ghana Army is arranging to medevac them from Burkina Faso so that those who are injured can continue to receive treatment here in Ghana.

“On behalf of the government and the people, we express our condolences to the families of those who were either killed or injured,” he said, extending sympathy and support to the affected families.

President Mahama further stressed the dangers faced by cross-border traders and the broader threats that regional instability poses to economic and social integration.

Also, the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, has disclosed that the seven Ghanaian Tomato traders killed in a terrorist attack in Titao, northern Burkina Faso, have been laid to rest.

According to the Minister, the bodies of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition and had begun decomposing, which forced authorities to proceed with burial arrangements in Burkina Faso.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, February 16, Muntaka Mubarak stated, “The seven bodies have been burnt beyond recognition. As at yesterday, we agreed they had begun decomposing and had to be buried”.

“So the Burkina Faso authorities told us [Ghanaians] that they would bury them at 10 a.m today. But our women who are not really injured can go and witness and take as many pictures as possible,” he added.

He added, “And the sad thing is that we lost seven of our men. Three of them got injured. One woman was critically injured, and others were not badly injured”.

Meanwhile, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, a Veteran journalist and Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, has said news about Ghanaian Tomato traders killed in a terrorist attack in Titao, northern Burkina Faso, immediately raises several questions.

According to Kwesi Pratt, it is time for Ghana to wake.

The Veteran journalist questioned how a tropical country like Ghana, with all its favourable conditions, depends on Burkina Faso for tomatoes.

He further questioned how Ghana has watched on as terrorists wreak havoc in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger when Ghana can also be a target.

In a social media post, Kwesi Pratt wrote, “Some press reports say that seven Ghanaian tomato traders have been killed in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso.

This immediately raises a number of questions.

How come that a tropical country like Ghana, with all the favourable conditions for tomato production, has become dependent on Burkina Faso for the supply of the vegetable?

Why have we sat back and watched terrorists wreak havoc in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, knowing fully well that the more successful they get in the Sahel, the more likely it is that we will become their targets?

Why has Ghana not taken action against the foreign governments which have been providing weapons and intelligence to the terrorists in the Sahel?

Is Ghana not aware of the fact that Western military bases in the sub-region are being used to supply the terrorists?

It is time for Ghana to wake up!”.

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