President John Dramani Mahama has assured Burkina Faso’s Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, that he will convey the concerns of the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES) to ECOWAS at its next meeting. This follows Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s decision to withdraw from the regional bloc.
The pledge came after Mahama’s “Good Neighborliness” tour to the three Sahelian nations, aimed at fostering diplomatic and economic cooperation. Speaking after a closed-door meeting with Captain Traoré, Mahama emphasized that the key issue behind the countries’ departure from ECOWAS is a breakdown of trust.
“We’ve discussed the issue of AES and ECOWAS, and I’ve gained new perspectives on the concerns of these three countries regarding their relations with ECOWAS. I assured Mr. President that at the next ECOWAS meeting, I would pass on what they have explained to me to the other leaders. I think there is a breakdown of trust among the leadership. It will take time to rebuild, but we must work on it to restore confidence, even if we are not part of the same regional body,” Mahama stated.
The president also highlighted the security challenges facing the Sahel region, particularly the fight against terrorism, which he described as a “cancer” that could spread if not collectively addressed.
“In Africa, we say when your neighbor’s house is on fire, you have to help him put it out; otherwise, it will spread to your own house. Terrorism started in Mali, then gradually spread into Niger and Burkina Faso. If we don’t fight it together, it will engulf the entire region,” he warned.
Beyond security concerns, Mahama and Captain Traoré discussed strengthening economic ties between Ghana and Burkina Faso. Key areas of focus included improving trade relations, facilitating the free movement of people and goods, and enhancing transit trade through Ghana for Burkinabé importers.
“We also talked about improving transit corridors so that Burkina Faso importers who use Ghana’s ports can do so without any disturbances. Additionally, we discussed trade in agricultural products between our countries and how to facilitate that exchange,” Mahama noted.
Furthermore, the discussions touched on increasing electricity exports from Ghana to Burkina Faso, as well as the expansion of energy infrastructure, including extending Ghana’s petroleum pipeline from Bolgatanga to Ouagadougou.
Mahama also revealed ongoing efforts to establish a direct Accra-Ouagadougou flight route, with a Ghanaian airline expressing interest in operating daily flights between the two capitals.
