Ghana and Burkina Faso Discuss Security, Economic Cooperation – Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama met with Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, on Monday, March 10, 2025, to discuss regional relations, security challenges, and economic cooperation.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mr Mahama said they had discussed the African Economic Community (AEC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He noted that he had gained fresh insight into the concerns of Burkina Faso and its regional allies regarding their relationship with ECOWAS.
He assured President Traoré that he would relay these concerns to other West African leaders at the next ECOWAS summit.
“There is a breakdown of trust among the leadership, and while it will take time to rebuild, we must work towards restoring confidence in one another,” Mr Mahama said.
The discussions also focused on security, particularly the growing threat of terrorism in the Sahel.
Mr Mahama noted that what began in Mali had gradually spread to Niger and Burkina Faso.
He stressed the need for a united front against terrorism, describing it as a cancer that, if not confronted collectively, would spread further across the region.
Trade and economic ties between Ghana and Burkina Faso were also high on the agenda.
The two leaders explored ways to improve the transit corridor for Burkinabe importers using Ghana’s ports, facilitate agricultural trade, and establish a direct Accra-Ouagadougou flight.
Other issues included increasing Ghana’s electricity exports to Burkina Faso and expanding the petroleum transit corridor.
Mr Mahama revealed that Burkina Faso had acquired a storage terminal in Tema and was considering using Ghana’s pipeline network to transport fuel and diesel products to Ouagadougou.
