The Centre for Climate Change & Food Security (CCCFS) has strongly condemned a recent terrorist attack targeting tomato traders traveling between Ghana and Burkina Faso, describing the incident as a blow to regional economic integration.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the CCCFS expressed profound sorrow over the killings and extended condolences to the victims’ families, whose livelihoods depend on secure cross-border commerce. The organization emphasized that the attack should be viewed within a security and economic context and not as a failure of Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Trade as a Strategic Choice, Not Failure
The CCCFS pushed back against narratives suggesting that importing tomatoes from Burkina Faso indicates domestic insufficiency. Instead, the group argued that such trade is a “strategic economic practice” and a practical application of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) principles of regional complementarity.
According to the center, Burkina Faso holds a distinct geographical advantage for tomato production:
* Climatic Advantage: Burkina Faso’s upstream location in the Volta Basin provides natural irrigation.
* Water Resources: The Black, White, and Red Volta rivers originate there, supporting structured dry-season vegetable production.
* Infrastructure: Significant investments in dams and irrigation allow Burkina Faso to provide a consistent supply even when seasonal fluctuations limit production in Ghana.
“Ghanaian traders sourcing tomatoes from Burkina Faso is a practical application of ECOWAS and AfCFTA integration,” the CCCFS stated, noting that these imports stabilize markets in major urban centers like Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale during local harvest shortages.
Economic Resilience and Security
The organization highlighted that intra-regional agricultural trade contributes billions of dollars annually to West African economies. By sourcing from neighbors with climatic advantages, Ghanaian farmers and processors can focus on other competitive crops, thereby maintaining market resilience.
However, the CCCFS warned that the rising insecurity along trade corridors threatens these gains. The group noted that protecting traders is essential for:
* Maintaining stable supply chains.
* Keeping food prices affordable.
* Supporting smallholder farmers and women-led businesses.
Ruby Damenshie-Brown, the Climate Change & Gender Affairs Officer at CCCFS, called for immediate intervention from regional bodies. The center’s demands include:
* A swift and transparent investigation into the terrorist attack.
* Strengthened security coordination between ECOWAS and bilateral partners to protect traders.
* Reinforced safeguards for AfCFTA trade corridors.
* Public communication to clarify that cross-border commerce is a legitimate and strategic activity.
“Protecting cross-border traders is protecting regional integration, food security, and livelihoods,” Damenshie-Brown concluded.
