Interior Minister, Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka
Security analyst Richard Kumado has expressed disappointment over the politicisation of the recent tragedy involving eight Ghanaian tomato traders who were killed by terrorists in Burkina Faso.
Addressing critics who claim the Interior Minister lacks the capacity to handle the situation, Kumado argued that such assertions stem from a lack of understanding of the country’s national security architecture. He explained that since the Interior Minister also oversees National Security, he is fully empowered to lead security discussions with his Burkinabe counterparts.
Speaking on As It Is in Ghana on Rainbow Radio (87.5FM Ghana and 92.4FM UK), Kumado stated, “The Interior Minister is also the Minister for National Security. Act 1030, which the NPP enacted in changing the BNI and other names, requires that any minister can be placed in charge of national security.
“If the argument is that the Foreign Affairs Minister should hold discussions with the Foreign Affairs Minister of Burkina Faso, that is perfect. But if anyone claims that the Minister, in his capacity, is not qualified or has no power to do that, then such persons do not know what they are saying and have no knowledge of our security architecture.”
Kumado noted that the traders unfortunately failed to conduct proper security and risk assessments before travelling into the volatile region.
He also ruled out suggestions that Ghana should provide military escorts for traders, describing the idea as a breach of security protocols that could create diplomatic friction.
He argued that the Burkina Faso government which is currently at war with terrorists must lead any protection efforts within its borders.
“This could lead to civil conflict,” he warned, stressing that there are better ways to handle the crisis.
To prevent future tragedies, the analyst proposed two primary structural shifts: increased agricultural investment and the establishment of centralised markets.
He advised Ghana to invest in cultivating the specific tomato varieties sourced from Burkina Faso and to establish a centralised local market. According to him, this would enable traders to procure goods safely within Ghana and eliminate the need to enter high-risk areas.
“Ghana must invest heavily in domestic tomato farming, specifically planting the varieties that traders currently travel to Burkina Faso to source. Establishing a centralised local market would make it easier for traders to purchase goods safely within Ghana, removing the need to enter high-risk zones,” he added.
