Addressing the press after the meeting, Mr Mahama emphasised the importance of regional integration. He stated that discussions had centred around the African Economic Community (AEC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“I have gained a fresh perspective on Burkina Faso’s concerns regarding its relationship with ECOWAS,” he said. He assured President Traoré that he would relay these concerns to other West African leaders at the upcoming ECOWAS summit.
He acknowledged the current breakdown of trust among West African leaders, adding: “While it will take time to rebuild, we must work towards restoring confidence in one another.”
Security concerns, particularly the rising threat of terrorism in the Sahel region, formed a key part of the discussions.
Mr Mahama pointed out that what began in Mali has now spread to Niger and Burkina Faso, urging for a coordinated response to combat terrorism.
“Terrorism is like a cancer—if we do not confront it collectively, it will spread further across the region,” he warned.
The leaders explored strategies to enhance security cooperation, including intelligence-sharing and joint military initiatives to counter the influence of extremist groups in the region.
Boosting trade and economic collaboration
Trade and economic relations between Ghana and Burkina Faso also featured prominently in the discussions. The two leaders examined:
Improving the transit corridor for Burkinabe importers using Ghana’s ports, facilitating agricultural trade between the two countries, establishing a direct flight route between Accra and Ouagadougou.
In addition, energy cooperation was discussed, with Mr Mahama noting:
“Burkina Faso has acquired a storage terminal in Tema and is considering using Ghana’s pipeline network to transport fuel and diesel products to Ouagadougou.”
There were also discussions on expanding Ghana’s electricity exports to Burkina Faso and strengthening the petroleum transit corridor.
