Mahama convenes urgent security meeting over Burkina Faso attack

President John Dramani Mahama has summoned security chiefs and senior foreign affairs officials to an emergency meeting following the killing of seven Ghanaian traders in a terrorist attack at Titao in Burkina Faso.

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, disclosed on Monday that the President’s swift intervention reflects growing concern over worsening insecurity in parts of West Africa and the urgent need for coordinated regional action.

The attack occurred on Saturday, February 14, 2026, when a group of Ghanaian tomato traders travelling by truck to purchase produce in Burkina Faso were ambushed. Suspected jihadists reportedly stormed the town, separated the men from the women, opened fire on the men, and later set the vehicle ablaze.

Seven Ghanaian men were killed in the assault, while three others sustained injuries.

Speaking on the broader security implications, the Interior Minister said the tragedy highlights the transnational character of the extremist threat and reinforces the need for stronger cross border collaboration.

“President Mahama saw the need to call for a meeting for us to work together. Our citizens intermarry, they inter-trade, and they move across borders. What affects one country affects all,” he said.

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak revealed that recent regional consultations were held in Accra involving security heads and foreign ministers from Mali, Liberia and Ghana to deepen intelligence sharing and enhance joint strategies against extremist groups.

He stressed that no country in the sub-region can effectively confront the threat in isolation.

“That’s why President Mahama said that, look, can we all work together and try and create a safe haven within the subregion by sharing intelligence, by working together to be able to defeat these jihadists without necessarily waiting for them to get to us,” he said.

The Minister warned that the deteriorating security climate in parts of Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel poses serious risks not only to local populations but also to traders and migrants who depend on cross-border movement for economic survival.

Extremist attacks in northern Burkina Faso have intensified in recent months, leading to heavy civilian casualties and large-scale displacement.

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Ghanaian nationals abroad and pledged to continue engaging authorities in Burkina Faso to support affected families and ensure the safe evacuation of survivors.

Efforts are also ongoing within ECOWAS frameworks to address the root drivers of violent extremism across the sub-region.