Over 500 sacks of onions, offloaded from trucks, have spoiled as a result of transportation delays.

The delay is stemed from the border closure in Benin. Consequently, the quality of the onions has been significantly compromised, resulting in substantial financial losses for individuals engaged in the onion trade.

The spoilt onions are either being thrown away as waste or sold to retailers at lower prices than originally intended.

The Anloga Onion market has witnessed a drastic decline in prices, with a sack of onions previously valued at GH¢1,300 now being sold for as little as GH¢100.

Speaking to the media, a truck driver, "we spent ten days at the Benin border, so the onions have turned bad. Onions start to go bad within four days. The Ghana Ambassador came to intervene, which is why we were allowed to pass through the border, but it was too late. We have lost a lot of money. About 220 bags of onions have all gone bad."

The onion vendors have expressed their sorrow over the substantial losses, which are estimated to be in the millions of Ghanaian cedis.

One vendor said, "Sadness has befallen us. When you are approaching the market, you will smell the scent of the onions that have gone bad. This is due to our inability to reach here on time as a result of the closure of the border. We can’t calculate the amount lost as it stands now. An onion bag that used to be sold at GHS1,300 is now five bags being sold at GH¢150. We don't know what we are going to do. We are calling on the government to come to our aid because it's affecting us. We pay taxes."

Another vendor shared their frustration, stating, "I’m now selling a bag of onion for GH¢100, GH¢200, GH¢500. We have sent some to the refuse dump. I will not even get my principal, not to talk about my profits. We even sent money for additional trucks when we heard that the border was opened. And here we are with so much loss."

In the context of Niger, a coup was announced by soldiers on national television on July 27.

This coup resulted in the dissolution of the constitution, suspension of institutions, and closure of the nation's borders.

President Mohamed Bazoum was detained by troops from the presidential guard. On August 7, the coup leaders took the step of closing the country's airspace indefinitely, citing concerns about potential military intervention from neighboring nations.

The West African group of countries, ECOWAS, had previously warned that it might use force if President Mohamed Bazoum was not reinstated by 23:00 GMT on Sunday.

A junta spokesperson has affirmed the readiness of Niger's armed forces to defend the nation.