Ghana has evacuated its nationals wounded in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso that killed seven Ghanaian traders, transporting the survivors to Accra for medical treatment, the Ghana Armed Forces said on Wednesday.
In a statement, the military said three Ghanaian tomato traders were injured during the attack on Saturday, February 14, in the northern Burkinabe town of Titao. The evacuation was carried out as part of a coordinated humanitarian and security response by the Ghanaian government.
“The mission was conducted on Tuesday, February 17, by the Ghana Air Force,” the statement said, adding that the injured traders have been transferred to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra for further medical evaluation and treatment.
The Armed Forces expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the attack and wished the injured a swift recovery.
Officials said the victims were part of a group of Ghanaian traders who had travelled to Burkina Faso for commercial activities when armed militants launched the assault. The traders regularly crossed the border to buy tomatoes and other agricultural produce, reflecting long-standing informal trade ties between northern Ghana and Burkina Faso.
Cross-border trade remains a vital source of livelihood for communities on both sides of the border and an important supply route for food products, despite increasing security risks in the region.
Burkina Faso has experienced a sharp rise in violence in recent years from insurgent groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, with attacks spreading across the Sahel and increasingly targeting civilians and economic activity.
The deteriorating security situation has raised concerns among neighbouring countries about potential spillover, prompting closer regional coordination. Ghanaian officials said engagement with Burkinabe authorities is ongoing as efforts focus on treating the survivors and supporting affected families.