The denial was issued on October 25, 2024, in response to a report alleging that Ghanaian territory was aiding the insurgency in Burkina Faso.
During an interview on Eyewitness News, government spokesperson on security matters Palgrave Boakye-Danquah categorically dismissed these claims as “misleading,” reiterating that Ghana’s relationship with Burkina Faso is centered on legitimate cross-border activities, primarily trade.
“I want to put out very clearly that the Reuters story is misleading, We have people who travel from Burkina Faso to come into Ghana either to do trade or to pick up things from the harbour,” Boakye-Danquah emphasized.
The initial report alleged that Islamist militants involved in Burkina Faso’s conflict were establishing covert bases in northern Ghana.
These bases, the report suggested, were providing logistical and medical support to militants fighting in the Sahel, a claim that sparked concerns over the potential spread of extremist violence into Ghana.
Boakye-Danquah sought to paint a clearer picture of the cross-border activities between Ghana and Burkina Faso, which are mostly focused on trade and economic cooperation.
He pointed out that these interactions often involve the transportation of goods, with Burkina Faso relying on Ghana’s ports for import and export activities.
Given the economic constraints faced by Burkina Faso, some of its officials and traders use authorized vehicles to transport essential goods across the border.
“You find that they will use official vehicles of that nature,” Boakye-Danquah explained.
“We allow them to be able to come in and pick up whatever they need at the port and send it back into their country. So, the story is not what it is, it is misrepresenting.”