Nigeria–Ghana onion trade resumes after 5-day suspension

n n

By Efe Onodjae

n

The cross-border onion trade between Nigeria and Ghana has resumed following the suspension of a five-day strike by Nigerian exporters, signaling a return to normalcy after a brief but tense disruption in regional commerce.

n

President of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), Aliyu Maitasamu Isah, confirmed in an interview with Vanguard that transactions have fully restarted.

n

“We have resumed transactions. The strike has been suspended, so we are back to normal operations,” he said.

n

According to him, the impasse was resolved “the yesterday,” allowing traders to immediately return to business activities across the Ghana corridor and other export routes.

n

According Maitasamu who is also President, Regional Observatory body of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO/AOC) attributed the resolution to the intervention of top officials from both countries, including Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana and Ghana’s Minister of Trade.

n

“They met and were able to resolve the issue to some extent. However, discussions are still ongoing, as we remain at the negotiation table to finalize everything,” he explained.

n

According to him the breakthrough led to the release of previously detained trucks and the restoration of the status quo in trading operations.

n

“They released our trucks, and we have resumed normal operations. We were asked to maintain the status quo, essentially to continue operating as we did before the crisis,” he added.

n

Recall that the suspension of onion exports earlier in the week followed escalating tensions between Nigerian traders and local groups in Ghana, particularly at the Kotoku Market in Accra.

n

Information made available indicated that Nigerian traders faced harassment, intimidation, and the seizure of trucks loaded with onions, prompting NOPPMAN to halt exports to protect its members from losses and insecurity.

n

The dispute disrupted a major agricultural trade route within the ECOWAS region and raised concerns about supply shortages and price instability in Ghana.

n

Addressing concerns about violence during the crisis, Maitasamu disclosed that Ghanaian authorities took decisive action against those responsible for the unrest.

n

“The government took the necessary steps and even arrested those involved in the shooting at the market. The mastermind behind the incident was apprehended by the Ghanaian government,” he said. He clarified that beyond the confiscation of goods, no widespread fracas was recorded.

n n