Inside Burkina Faso, Ghana border trade opportunities : emerging markets and safety concerns.

With Burkina Faso relying on trade with Ghana to access the sea to export its minerals and cotton abroad, bureaucracy has seemed to slow down the border crossing between the two economies. Since an insurgency erupted a decade ago, traders, particularly women, continue to face threats in the form of hijackings, abuse and theft, among other illegal coordinated activities.

To improve safety and operations at the (Paga-Dakola) border a series of meetings has endorsed the reforms being proposed so as to make the vital corridor work more smoothly between the two countries.

Taking a look at the Traffic at the Paga-Dakola border crossing point, interactions seem to have soared as traders have re-routed shipments away from insurgent-held regions, as the border suffers from poor management, weak agency coordination, and widespread non-compliance alongside corruption.

Inside Burkina Faso, traders use convoys for safety, but Ghana has no such system in place. Moreover, years of crisis have forced some banks to close, making financial services even more difficult to access.

"Of late, Security has resulted to be a major concern here. If we cannot guarantee the safety of our goods and the traders, then all the efforts to streamline the border processes will be in vain."A female livestock trader in Burkina Faso said.

Solution mapping:

However, from October 2023 to March 2025 research study conducted recommends that 78 specific reforms are essential in improving border processes, upgrading infrastructure, digitalize systems, and better supporting women traders in business.

The International Trade Centre (ITC), through the  Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Agricultural Trade Programme (EAT), partnered with the ECOWAS Commission, German development agency GIZ, and national authorities to conduct further research which seeks to map out possible ways to strengthen markets and trade between the two and other regional countries

Despite having Burkina Faso withdrawing from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), to form a new alliance with Mali and Niger, The development however has raised a series of concerns on future trade policies, border protocols, and regional cooperation although business remain committed to strengthening cross-border trade to date.

Way Forward:

As a way forward, on 3 March 2025, the Ghana Shippers Authority and ITC have since gathered more than 20 experts to review viable channels to ensure lucrative trade with ECOWAS, on board, national policymakers, customs officials, business leaders, and development partners. 

The road to enable trade between the two bears future hopes as the involvement of every stakeholder matters in drafting sound policies which ensure the safety and security of the general community.