The 2024 Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for allegedly straining the relationship between Ghana and Burkina Faso.

Speaking during a media engagement in the Upper East Region, he gave the assurance that the next NDC government will work to resolve the strained relationship between Ghana and Burkina Faso, as reported by myjoyonline.com.

He said there is a "diplomatic tension" between the two countries, despite the president’s efforts to resolve the issue.

John Mahama stressed the need for Ghana to maintain good relationships with neighbouring countries, particularly as part of efforts to address threats from the Sahel region.

"When your neighbour's beard is on fire, you fetch water and put it by your beard because it can spread to your own.

"We know what is happening in Burkina Faso, and we should be working closer with our comrades in Burkina Faso. Unfortunately, this government has created tension between us and Burkina Faso because our President went to open his mouth too widely, gossiping about your neighbour, so it has created some diplomatic tension.

“When government changes, we have to go and talk to our neighbours because we must work together. I think that we must improve our relationship,” he said.

He called for increased surveillance, and enhanced security measures to prevent regional conflicts from spreading to the country.

Background

On December 14, 2024, the president, while addressing reporters alongside U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, alleged that Burkina Faso had hired Russian mercenaries and that Burkina Faso had offered Wagner a mine as payment.

“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 said.

Subsequently, Burkina Faso summoned 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.

JKB/AE

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