Onion sellers raise the alarm over seized Nigerian trucks in Ghana

The Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO) has raised an alarm over the ongoing seizure of Nigerian onion trucks in Ghana, warning of a potential regional trade crisis. Several trucks laden with onions have been stranded at the Kotoku Market in Ghana since Tuesday, July 21, after Ghanaian traders allegedly prevented them from offloading their produce. This situation is inflicting heavy losses on Nigerian farmers, exporters, and transporters.

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We are sounding the alarm because this is no longer an issue affecting only onion traders. It is a direct threat to Nigeria’s legitimate exports and regional trade. We call on the Federal Government to urgently engage the Ghanaian authorities and secure the immediate release of our trucks.

ORO President Isa Aliyu stated that the prolonged detention of the perishable commodity could undermine Nigeria's cross-border trade and violate ECOWAS trade protocols. Despite interventions from the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, the Embassy of the Republic of Niger, and the ECOWAS Trade Directorate, the trucks have not yet been released. Aliyu emphasized that this is no longer just an issue for onion traders but a direct threat to Nigeria's legitimate exports and regional trade, urging the Nigerian Federal Government to urgently engage Ghanaian authorities for the immediate release of the trucks.

Aliyu, who also heads the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), highlighted the significant daily economic losses incurred as the onions, being highly perishable, deteriorate. He expressed difficulty in understanding the action, as Ghanaian traders continue to have unrestricted access to Nigerian markets, buying over 50 trucks of onions weekly without discrimination. Nigeria exports approximately 16 trucks of onions to Ghana weekly, with Niger supplying an additional 10 trucks under existing trade arrangements.

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Our farmers, exporters and transporters are counting huge losses daily. If this situation continues, the quality of the onions will deteriorate, with devastating consequences for everyone in the value chain.

The ORO president maintained that the blockade violates the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area, both of which guarantee the free movement of goods among member states. He appealed to the Federal Government to address the matter diplomatically with the Ghanaian government to protect Nigerian businesses and preserve the bilateral trade relationship.

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Ghanaian traders buy over 50 trucks of onions from Nigeria, and they do so without any form of discrimination. We have always welcomed them because we believe in regional trade and cooperation.