A potential diplomatic tension is on the horizon as Burkina Faso's military leader, Ibrahim Traoré, has revealed that his country will engage in consultations with Mali and Niger before making a final decision on whether to permit Ghanaian traders and other West African nationals to conduct business in their countries.

The military leader stated that a conclusive decision would be reached after leaders from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso engage in consultations on the matter.

”We remain pan-African. Anyone in Africa or an African who wants to come to Burkina is welcome. We will decide what measures to take in due course regarding traders coming from Ghana, Nigeria, and other West African countries,” he said.

The three nations, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, officially declared last week their decision to exit the sub-regional ECOWAS trading bloc.

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has expressed concerns about potential disruptions to its supply chain within West Africa following the recent announcement.

According to the President of the Association, Dr. Joseph Obeng, the departure of these countries could create more hurdles in doing business.

"It will surely have an impact, and we do not know how it's going to affect the free flow of traffic and humans. The earlier we try to find a solution to this better," he said.

On his part, President Akufo-Addo has expressed regret over the unfortunate decision made by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to withdraw their membership from ECOWAS.

As the former ECOWAS Chair, President Akufo-Addo noted that this decision would have repercussions for the citizens of these nations.

He mentioned that discussions were pending to assess the consequences of their withdrawal and determine the next steps forward.

In 2021, Burkina Faso exported $50.3M to Ghana. The main products that Burkina Faso exported to Ghana are Other Oily Seeds ($21.2M), Other Pure Vegetable Oils ($5.95M), and Coconuts, Brazil Nuts, and Cashews ($5.41M). During the last 26 years, the exports of Burkina Faso to Ghana have increased at an annualized rate of 10.3%, from $3.95M in 1995 to $50.3M in 2021.