Security expert Richard Kumadoe has urged Ghanaian traders to conduct thorough travel risk assessments before embarking on business trips to Burkina Faso, following reports of a terrorist attack involving Ghanaian traders.
Speaking on ABC in the Morning, Mr. Kumadoe cautioned that the deteriorating security situation in parts of the Sahel requires heightened vigilance from cross-border traders whose livelihoods depend on regional commerce.
He advised transport operators, market leaders, and trader associations to actively monitor security briefings, coordinate closely with border authorities, and carefully plan safer travel routes before setting out on business trips.
“Take your personal security, safety guidelines, and travel risk security risk assessment seriously as a trader,” he stated.
According to him, while regional trade remains essential to sustaining families and local economies, traders must balance economic interests with personal safety by staying informed about emerging security threats.
The comments come amid growing concerns over the safety of Ghanaian traders operating in parts of Burkina Faso, where extremist attacks have intensified in recent years.
Beyond immediate travel precautions, Mr. Kumadoe is also calling on the government to consider establishing designated substitute markets for traders operating in high-risk or congested areas. He argued that creating safer trading spaces is critical to protecting both lives and livelihoods.
“What we can do is to establish markets in Bolgatanga and Tamale to make life easier for everybody,” he suggested.
He explained that many traders continue to operate in locations exposed to security threats, environmental hazards, or emergency disruptions, leaving them vulnerable during crises. Establishing well-planned alternative markets, he said, would enable authorities to swiftly relocate traders when safety concerns arise, while ensuring that business activities continue with minimal interruption.
