By Cynthia Alo
The Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa, ORO/WCA, has appealed to the Government of Ghana to urgently intervene in the continued detention of five trucks loaded with Nigerian onions at Kotoku Market, warning that the development is causing heavy losses on farmers, exporters and traders.
In a statement signed by its President, Aliyu Isah, who is also the National President of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), ORO said some Ghanaian onion traders had prevented the trucks from offloading their consignments since Tuesday.
The regional body said the prolonged delay is particularly damaging because onions are highly perishable commodities.
“If this situation persists, the quality of the produce will continue to deteriorate, leading to avoidable economic losses for farmers, traders and businesses that depend on cross-border trade,” the statement said.
ORO disclosed that several diplomatic efforts had been made to resolve the impasse, including engagements with trader associations in Ghana and interventions by the ECOWAS Trade Directorate through the trade ministries of both countries, but the matter remains unresolved.
The organisation noted that Ghanaian onion traders operating in Nigeria conduct their businesses freely without discrimination, urging Ghanaian authorities to extend the same treatment to Nigerian traders.
Isah said the continued obstruction of legitimate onion trade contradicts the objectives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which promote the free movement of goods and regional economic integration.
ORO therefore called on the Ghanaian government to facilitate the immediate release of the trucks and restore the smooth flow of agricultural trade between both countries.
Speaking further on the issue exclusively to Vanguard, Isah revealed that about five trucks have remained stranded despite interventions by the Nigerian Ministry of Trade, the Ghanaian Ministry of Trade and ECOWAS.
“Approximately five trucks that were detained from Tuesday till today. We have reported the issue to the relevant authorities. The Nigerian Ministry of Trade are doing their best, ECOWAS are aware, and even the Ghana Ministry of Trade are working to resolve it,” he said.
He alleged that a group of traders in Ghana was attempting to dominate the onion market.
“The onion is produced mainly in Nigeria and Niger Republic and consumed across West Africa. When Ghanaian traders come to Nigeria, they buy freely without discrimination. But when we go to Ghana, they keep introducing different rules, which is very bad.
“We want to solve the issue amicably. As president of the regional body, I have to remain neutral because ORO represents all member countries. We just pray that this time government will bring everybody to the table and resolve the matter,” Isah added.
ORO reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue, expressing hope that the dispute would be resolved quickly to preserve the longstanding trade relationship between Nigeria and Ghana and strengthen regional agricultural trade.
