Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has blamed the recent terrorist attack on Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso on what he describes as the government’s posture toward Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

The Bimbilla MP said that even at the peak of terrorist activities in Burkina Faso, Ghanaians were largely spared such attacks.

In an interview with Citi News, Nitiwul questioned the decision to invite Captain Traoré to the swearing-in ceremony of President John Dramani Mahama. He suggested that the move may have sent unintended signals at a time when security in the sub-region remains fragile.

“The attackers knew these were Ghanaians, so why did they go ahead to attack them? They knew this was a Ghanaian-registered vehicle; they knew they were speaking English.

“During the period of 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, this was the time that terrorism was high in Burkina Faso, Ghanaians were going there but they never attacked them. In fact when they saw that you are a Ghanaian, they allowed you to pass. Why are they attacking Ghanaians now?

“I think we are beginning to create enemies for ourselves. Why did we invite Captain Traoré for the swearing-in when he was a coup maker? The man is fighting terrorism on our border. He is fighting people who could target us. What was the use? Why were we cheering him?” he questioned.

He urged the government to reassess it’s relationship with other countries.