The Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has described the recent terrorist attack that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso as evidence of lapses in Ghana’s security preparedness.

Addressing Parliament on February 19, in his capacity as Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. Ntim Fordjour said the dangers within Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel region have long been known.

The February 14 attack occurred in a conflict-prone zone where extremist groups have been active.

“The terrorism threats and crises within our neighbouring countries, especially Burkina Faso, are not in doubt or did not start from yesterday,” he told the House.

He insisted that Ghana’s security agencies should have anticipated the risks faced by traders travelling through such territories.

He stressed that a formal travel advisory could have saved lives by alerting citizens to the dangers. “Mr Speaker, these killings are avoidable,” he emphasised, describing the absence of prior caution as a serious oversight.

The Assin South MP called for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s travel advisory system and enhanced collaboration with regional security partners.

He noted that as cross-border trade continues, the government must prioritise proactive risk assessment and public communication to protect Ghanaian nationals abroad.