The Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius Debrah, yesterday Saturday, March 28, 2026, led a high-powered government delegation to the funeral of the Koforidua-based tomato trader who tragically lost her life in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso.
The somber ceremony, held in Koforidua, brought together government officials, traditional leaders, and hundreds of mourning traders to pay their final respects to a woman described as a “martyr of regional trade.”
A Tragic Loss in the Sahel
The deceased was among seven Ghanaian traders who were caught in a violent assault by armed militants in the northern Burkinabe town of Titao on February 14, 2026. The group was traveling to secure tomato supplies a trade route that has become increasingly perilous due to the rising insurgency in the Sahel region.
While several survivors were evacuated by the Ghana Air Force and treated at the 37 Military Hospital in February, the loss of life has sent shockwaves through the local business community, particularly in the Ashanti and Eastern regions.
Government’s Assurance on Security
Representing President John Dramani Mahama, Hon. Julius Debrah expressed the state’s deepest condolences to the bereaved family. He emphasized that the government is acutely aware of the security challenges facing cross-border traders and is working closely with Burkinabe authorities and regional security blocs to enhance protection for Ghanaian nationals.
”Our sisters and mothers who travel across borders to feed this nation are heroes,” the Chief of Staff remarked during the funeral. “This government remains committed to ensuring that no Ghanaian life is lost in the pursuit of honest labor.”
Calls for Enhanced Protection
The funeral also served as a platform for leadership from various trade associations to renew their plea for government intervention. Many traders expressed fear over the $400 million tomato industry, which relies heavily on imports from Burkina Faso during certain seasons.
The delegation, which included regional ministers and heads of security agencies, presented a donation on behalf of the President to support the family and the children left behind by the deceased.
The burial marks the end of a weeks-long period of mourning that has highlighted the human cost of the security crisis currently gripping parts of West Africa.
