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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer for 2024, John Dramani Mahama, has attributed the current diplomatic strain between Ghana and Burkina Faso to President Akufo-Addo’s indiscreet remarks.
Mahama criticized Akufo-Addo for allegedly causing “diplomatic tension” through his comments, despite subsequent efforts to mend the relationship.
During a media interaction in the Upper East Region, Mahama underscored the necessity of maintaining strong ties with neighboring countries, especially given the security threats emanating from the Sahel region.
He illustrated the importance of vigilance and cooperation with a local proverb: “When your neighbour’s beard is on fire, you fetch water and put it by your beard because it can spread to your own.”
“We know what is happening in Burkina Faso, and we should be working closer with our comrades in Burkina Faso. Unfortunately, this government has created tension between us and Burkina Faso because our President went to open his mouth too widely, gossiping about your neighbour, so it has created some diplomatic tension,” Mahama said.
He emphasized that an NDC government would prioritize repairing the relationship with Burkina Faso, noting the need for collaboration to address shared security concerns. He also called for enhanced border security, increased surveillance, and robust measures to prevent the spillover of regional conflicts.
Mahama urged the current government to resolve the Bawku crisis swiftly as part of the broader efforts to bolster national security.
The diplomatic rift began when President Akufo-Addo, speaking alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on December 14, alleged that Burkina Faso had hired Russian mercenaries and offered a mine as payment to the Wagner Group.
“Today, Russian mercenaries are on our northern border. Burkina Faso has now entered into an arrangement to go along with Mali in employing the Wagner forces there,” Akufo-Addo stated, describing it as a troubling development for Ghana.
In response, Burkina Faso summoned Ghana’s Ambassador on December 16 for “explanations.”
Burkina Faso’s Foreign Ministry expressed its disapproval, stating that Ghana should have sought direct communication with Burkinabe authorities to obtain accurate information.
To address the fallout, Ghana’s National Security Minister, Mr. Kan-Dapaah, led a high-level delegation to Burkina Faso, including security chiefs and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. Following these efforts, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to jointly combat terrorism in the West Africa region.
tigpost.co
