Parliament was thrown into a heated debate as Members of Parliament traded accusations and counter-accusations over the recent terrorist attack in Burkina Faso that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaian tomato traders.
The Minority side demanded urgent action, calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the killings, as well as state compensation and support for the families of the victims.
Raising the issue on the floor of Parliament, the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, questioned whether Ghanaian authorities had acted on intelligence warnings and demanded accountability.
“The Minority demands the following: an immediate parliamentary enquiry into the circumstances surrounding this tragedy, including whether prior intelligence warnings existed and what steps, if any, were taken to protect Ghanaian traders operating in high-risk zones. Full compensation and state support for the families of the deceased and the injured,” he said.
He further argued that Ghanaian civilians had been exposed to danger following heightened security risks in Burkina Faso, stressing that the victims were non-combatants.
“The president of Burkina Faso, General Ibrahim Traore, became a special guest at the inauguration of President Mahama. And I’m not saying it. Security experts indicated, Mr. Speaker, that Ghanaians were going to become targets.
“And indeed, these traders, Mr. Speaker, let’s ask ourselves the fundamental question. These traders are not combatants. These traders do not play any role in the conflict in Burkina Faso,” Mr Jinapor added.
However, the debate quickly took a political turn when National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP Samuel Atta Mills shifted focus to domestic agricultural policy, accusing the previous government of failing northern farming communities through the stalled Pwalugu irrigation project.
“Your former flagbearer, who’s now your new flagbearer, went on TV and said the best thing he has ever done in the north was the Pwalugu Dam.
“This Pwalugu Dam was supposed to help us irrigate the land and grow tomatoes in the north. We spent about $12 million, and we have nothing to show for it. If this dam had been built, we would be able to grow our tomatoes up north,” he argued.
The comments drew strong opposition from the Minority, prompting a response from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who rejected allegations of financial abuse and challenged the government on its economic promises.
“The honourable member, who is the majority leader, is a lawyer, and he knows. I challenge him to come out with any evidence to suggest or point to a person who has abused any so-called money.
“Mr. Speaker, his party is in government. Where is their 24-hour economy? Where is the one job, three shifts? If you create jobs in Pwalugu, it will help the poor in that part of the region,” Mr Afenyo-Markin asked.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga escalated the exchange, linking the tragedy directly to the failure of the irrigation project.
“If the Pwalugu multipurpose dam had been constructed, the women will not be going to Burkina Faso. When you take $12 million dollars to do irrigation for them, do the irrigation.
“You chopped the money and drove the women into Burkina Faso to buy tomatoes, and they went and died there. And you want to come and do politics in this chamber,” he said.
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