The killing of seven Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso last week is a tragedy that must not fade into the usual cycle of shock, condemnation, and silence.
The traders had traveled across the Ghana–Burkina Faso border to purchase tomatoes and other foodstuffs for sale back home.
For many in northern Ghana, such cross-border trade is routine. Communities along the frontier share decades of economic and family ties.
But this time, what should have been a normal trading trip ended in bloodshed after insurgents attacked the community where the traders were operating.
While the security implications of the Sahel crisis cannot be ignored, the incident also forces Ghana to confront a difficult question: Why are our traders compelled to risk their lives in conflict-prone territories to secure basic food items like tomatoes?
A Predictable Dry Season, An Unprepared System
Every year, Ghana’s dry season brings predictable food supply challenges. Yet we continue to enter this period without the irrigation capacity needed to sustain year-round vegetable production.
Over the years, governments have introduced major agricultural programs aimed at transforming the sector.
Among them was the One Village, One Dam initiative, designed to expand irrigation infrastructure in northern Ghana.
However, many of the constructed facilities were shallow dugouts rather than durable, climate-resilient dams capable of supporting commercial farming throughout the dry season.
Similarly, the Planting for Food and Jobs program, though ambitious in scale, focused heavily on input subsidies, while structural investments in irrigation, storage, mechanization, and market linkages remained inadequate.
The much-publicized Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam, touted as a transformative intervention for irrigation and energy generation, is yet to deliver its intended impact.
The result is clear: Ghana still struggles with seasonal vegetable shortages, forcing traders to rely on imports from neighboring countries, including conflict-affected Burkina Faso.
Food Security Is National Security
This tragedy underscores a broader point: food security is not merely an agricultural issue; it is a national security concern.
When citizens must cross into unstable regions to purchase essential commodities, it exposes vulnerabilities in domestic production systems.
If irrigation infrastructure had been fully implemented and properly managed, northern Ghana could be producing tomatoes and other vegetables throughout the year. Instead, traders are left to absorb the risks of supply gaps.
The loss of seven lives must, therefore, serve as a wake-up call.
Beyond Promises to Execution
Ghana does not lack policy ideas. It lacks consistent execution.
What is needed now is a comprehensive audit of stalled and underperforming agricultural initiatives, renewed investment in climate-resilient irrigation systems, and deliberate support for commercial farmers and agro-processors.
Encouragingly, the matter has attracted the attention of President John Mahama. The expectation is that this moment will translate into concrete action rather than renewed rhetoric.
As the nation mourns, the most meaningful tribute to the deceased traders will be reforms that ensure no Ghanaian has to risk death in search of tomatoes.
Source: myxyzonline.com
