The Governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso have quelled their differences over President Akufo-Addo’s Wagner comments.
The two countries have subsequently reaffirmed their commitment to work in fighting terrorism in the West Africa Region. This was achieved following the visit of the National Security Minister, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah to Burkina Faso.
Addressing the media after the engagements with the Burkinabe leader, Ibrahim Traore on Wednesday, December 21, the Minister said President Akufo-Addo asked him to deliver a message on the issue.
“The two countries reviewed the strong cooperation between them and clarified to their mutual satisfaction, recent reported discussions between Ghana and the United States with regard to the needed partnerships for sustainable peace in the region,” Kan-Dapaah told the media after the meeting.
He also spoke of the Accra Initiative to enable Burkina Faso defeat the terrorists who have brought untold hardship and pain to the people.
“In that respect, we discussed concrete support that Ghana has advocated for Burkina Faso in the Accra Initiative and ECOWAS and called on West African states to act expeditiously on the matter,” he added.
Mr Kan-Dapaah led a high-level delegation from Ghana, which also included security chiefs and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
President Akufo-Addo speaking to reporters alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday, December 14, alleged that Burkina Faso had hired the mercenaries.
“Today, Russian mercenaries are on our northern border. Burkina Faso has now entered into an arrangement to go along with Mali in employing the Wagner forces there,” Akufo-Addo had said, adding that it was a distressing development for Ghana.
Mr Akufo-Addo also alleged that Burkina Faso had offered Wagner a mine as payment.
After the comments, Burkina Faso summoned the Ghana’s Ambassador on Friday, December 16, for “explanations.”
In a statement issued after the meeting with the Ambassador, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Ministry said it had “expressed disapproval” about the statements made by the Ghanaian president.
“Ghana could have undertaken exchanges with the Burkinabe authorities on the security issue in order to have the right information,” it said.
