Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Hon. Sampson Ahi, has called for the strengthening of economic collaboration between Ghana and Burkina Faso to drive mutual prosperity and regional resilience. Hon. Ahi made the appeal during a bilateral meeting with Burkina Faso’s Minister for Industry, Trade and Craft, Donatien Nagalo, on Friday, October 10, 2025.
The meeting, themed “Structural Investments for a Sovereign Burkina Faso,” served as a platform for deepening economic ties across West Africa in trade, industry, and agriculture, emphasizing the shared history and common vision for a united and prosperous sub-region.
The Deputy Minister underscored the importance of seamless movement of goods and responsible investment to address regional challenges in job creation and competitiveness. He highlighted that trade between the two nations reached approximately US$300 million in 2024, with Ghana exporting processed foods, pharmaceuticals, and cocoa derivatives, and importing cotton, livestock, and agricultural products like shea butter from Burkina Faso. This complementary trade structure reveals significant opportunities for further collaboration, particularly in value-added agricultural and industrial sectors. Mr. Ahi highlighted Ghana’s initiatives, such as the Feed the Industry Programme and the Agribusiness Development and Value Extension Programme, designed to attract investment and foster business growth, urging Burkina Faso to integrate into regional value chains—for example, by having its cotton feed Ghanaian textile mills.
To transform these opportunities into concrete results, the Deputy Minister proposed several actionable steps, including identifying joint pilot projects in key sectors like cotton, tomatoes, and energy within the next six months. He also called for the establishment of a joint Investment Facilitation Desk and improvements to critical trade routes, specifically mentioning the road linking the Port of Tema in Ghana to Ouagadougou, alongside upgrades to dry ports and warehousing facilities.
The forum, graced by Burkina Faso’s Head of State, Capt. Ibrahim Toure, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to building a future of shared prosperity and turning today’s conversations into lasting partnerships under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
