Leaders of Ghana’s tomato trading community have issued a caution to drivers and market operators, warning against travel along cross-border routes into northern Burkina Faso following a deadly terrorist attack that claimed the lives of several Ghanaian traders earlier this month.

Speaking on JoyNews, Nana Tuffuor, head of the Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association, said many towns along the trade corridor are now classified as high-risk “red zones.”

“But first of all, we want our drivers, our traders… a lot of towns and villages in the northern part of Burkina Faso… are marked red. When I say red, it means there is danger over there,” he explained, adding that the association has provided members with a list of areas to avoid.

The warning comes after a terrorist ambush in the northern Burkinabè town of Titao on 14 February 2026, in which at least seven Ghanaian tomato traders were killed during a routine trading trip. According to security reports, insurgents separated the passengers and opened fire on the vehicle before setting it ablaze. Survivors were evacuated to Ghana by the Ghana Armed Forces for medical care.

In response, the association has suspended tomato imports from Burkina Faso and emphasized that continued trips along the traditional route could put more lives at risk.

“This is a sign of warning that is given to them,” Nana Tuffuor said, referring to the list provided to drivers and traders. “We are here to follow the bilateral discussions between our Foreign Minister and his Burkina Faso counterpart.”

The Ghanaian government has engaged in talks with Burkinabè officials to improve border security and protect traders operating in volatile parts of the Sahel.

The tomato trade between Ghana and Burkina Faso has historically been vital for local markets, particularly during periods of low domestic production. However, the recent attack, condemned by both Ghanaian and Burkinabè authorities, has raised serious concerns about the safety of cross-border commerce and its impact on food security.