The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has expressed concerns about potential disruptions to its supply chain within West Africa following the recent announcement by military leaders in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to officially leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to the President of the Association, Dr. Joseph Obeng, the departure of these countries could create more hurdles in doing business.
“It will surely have an impact, and we do not know how it’s going to affect the free flow of traffic and humans. The earlier we try to find a solution to this better,” he said.
The three countries, currently facing sanctions for overthrowing democratically elected governments, cited inhumane sanctions as the reason for their withdrawal from ECOWAS.
Ghana, particularly, is apprehensive about the economic and food security implications, as its main source of supply for items like onions, tomatoes, and other staples comes from Burkina Faso.
While there are fears of adverse impacts on trade, the country’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Boniface Gambilla, suggests that it is too early to make definitive predictions about the situation.