Government is collaborating with Burkina Faso authorities and Ghana’s mission in Ouagadougou to identify Ghanaians affected by a recent terrorist attack at Titao, northern Burkina Faso.
Mr Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, Minister for the Interior, said seven Ghanaian men were killed and three others injured when suspected jihadists attacked a truck conveying Ghanaian tomato traders on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
He disclosed this on Monday in an interview on an Accra-based television programme.
The Minister said one of the injured was in critical condition while the other two were stable.
He explained that the traders had travelled to Burkina Faso to purchase tomatoes for resale in Ghana, as part of longstanding cross-border trade between the two countries.
The Minister said the attackers stormed the town, separated the men from the women and opened fire on the men before setting the truck ablaze.
“The truck driver and nine other men were on board. Unfortunately, we lost seven of them, and three sustained injuries,” he said.
Mr Mohammed-Mubarak noted that initial confirmation of the victims’ nationality was difficult due to the chaotic circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said eight Ghanaian women travelling with the group survived and were assisting the authorities in the identification process.
“The women knew the men personally. Some of the victims had Ghana Cards and other identification documents, which are helping us confirm their identities,” he stated.
The Minister said Ghana had requested the Burkina Faso authorities to permit the taking of samples for possible DNA testing before burial, following reports that the bodies had been severely burnt and had begun decomposing.
“And so based on the correspondence in Burkina Faso, they are going to be buried today because the bodies have started decomposing.
“And so the authorities in Burkina Faso say they are going to be burying them today. They’ve tried to get the Ghanian mission there to be part of it.”
Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said the Burkina Faso authorities had assured Ghana that the burial process would be documented and that arrangements would be made to facilitate the safe passage of the survivors to Ghana’s mission.
“We are trying to identify the families and will reach out to them before making any public confirmation of names,” he said.
Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said, extending condolences to the bereaved families.
In an earlier statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said it was in constant communication with Ghana’s mission in Burkina Faso and local authorities to ensure appropriate consular support for the affected citizens.
Titao, in northern Burkina Faso, has experienced repeated attacks in recent years amid a deteriorating security situation.
Ghanaian traders, particularly those dealing in tomatoes and other agricultural produce, regularly travel to Burkina Faso as part of regional trade within the ECOWAS sub-region.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
16 Feb. 2026
