Ghana’s reliance on food imports has been flagged as a growing national security concern following reports of attacks on Ghanaian traders sourcing tomatoes from Burkina Faso.

Security consultant and professor at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Kwesi Aning, has warned that the country’s continued dependence on external food supply exposes traders and the wider economy to heightened security risks, particularly in conflict-prone regions.

The development comes after Ghanaian traders travelling to neighbouring countries to purchase tomatoes reportedly faced violent attacks, raising fresh concerns about cross-border trade safety and Ghana’s local agricultural production capacity.

Prof. Aning stressed that Ghana must urgently re-evaluate its food production strategies and prioritise sustainable, locally driven agricultural policies to reduce reliance on imports and safeguard national security.

"We need to bring practical implementable policies that have impactful ends back to people's lives. It doesn't cost money or it shouldn't cost too much money. But we are interested in fancy huge projects that eventually fail. We've got to learn to start to feed ourselves. Security is going to be a problem because if you look at the demographics, let me come back in 2030 years we may be around 70 million and with this attitude I would guarantee food insecurity will be our biggest challenge" he told Joy News in a phone-in interview

A truck carrying Ghanaian tomato traders was attacked by terrorists in Titao, Burkina Faso on Sunday, February, 15. This was contained in a press release issued to media houses and signed by the Minister for the Interior and National Security, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak.

“The Government of Ghana has received disturbing information from Burkina Faso of a truck carrying tomato traders from Ghana, which was caught in a terrorist attack in Titao,” the release said.

According to the Ministry, Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso has already launched an investigation into the unfortunate incident.

“The Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso is liaising with officials of Burkina Faso to visit the attack site for details and identification of Ghanaians caught in the attack,” the statement added.

Parts of the Sahel region have recently experienced heightened terrorist attacks.Meanwhile, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have formally broke away from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) due to diplomatic tensions after military takeovers and due to economic and social failures by past governments.

The military juntas of these countries are led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, General Assimi Goïta, and General Abdourahmane Tchiani, respectively.

The trio accused the ECOWAS of failing to safeguard member states and deviating from founding principles and Pan-African spirit.In response to these claims, ECOWAS revealed that it did not receive formal notice before their withdrawal; therefore, it called for a dialogue to address their concerns.

"The ECOWAS Commission remains seized with the development and shall make further pronouncements as the situation evolves," it added.

President John Dramani Mahama extended invitations to the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to participate in the official launch of ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary celebrations, which took place in Accra on April 22.

The invitation to the Sahelian states was part of Ghana’s broader efforts to rebuild relations and enhance cooperation for a stable and united West African region.

International Relations Analyst Dr. Yaw Gebe endorsed President John Dramani Mahama’s decision, describing the gesture as a positive step toward regional reconciliation.

He, however, advised the ECOWAS to critically reflect on the underlying reasons behind the exit of the Sahel nations and emphasised the need for the bloc to adopt a more inclusive and problem-solving approach going forward.“My prayer and longing is that whatever the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu or President John Mahama are doing, they should be conscious of the problems or challenges these countries are facing. The ECOWAS must be willing and ready to tackle those problems collectively. And that is a major shortcoming on the part of ECOWAS,” he said.

Despite the formal withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 29, citizens from these countries will still be able to use their national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo for travel within the region.

ECOWAS has assured that in the interest of regional cooperation and to prevent unnecessary disruptions, all relevant authorities within and outside the bloc’s member states should continue to recognize these travel documents until further notice.

Additionally, trade and economic activities involving these three nations will not face immediate restrictions. Goods and services from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger will continue to receive the same treatment under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and investment policy.

Citizens from the affected countries will also retain their right to visa-free movement, residence, and establishment across ECOWAS states, ensuring that travel and cross-border activities remain unhindered.

Furthermore, officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger working within ECOWAS will be given full support and cooperation in carrying out their assignments.

These measures will remain in place as ECOWAS leaders work on defining the future relationship between the bloc and the three nations. A special structure has been put in place to facilitate discussions on the next steps.

The regional body emphasized that these transitional arrangements aim to maintain stability, minimize confusion, and support the people and businesses affected by the withdrawal.