After about four months of a protracted dispute between Ghanaian and Nigerian onion traders, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has intervened to help bring the impasse to an end.

Following her intervention, all four Ghanaian trucks transporting onions from Nigeria to Ghana had been released as of Thursday, August 13, 2026, according to the Public Relations Officer of the Accra Onion Sellers and Importers Cooperative Society, Osman Mohammed.

About the dispute

The dispute between Ghanaian and Nigerian onion traders began in April 2026. On April 5, Nigerian trucks were blocked at Accra's Adjen Kotoku Market, prompting Nigerian exporters to suspend shipments to Ghana. The closure of the market lasted five days, immediately creating shortages across Ghanaian markets.

By May, the situation had worsened. Ghanaian traders reported that their trucks were stranded at Nigerian borders, while onion prices in Accra surged due to reduced supply. Tensions grew as accusations emerged that Nigerian traders were bypassing Ghanaian middlemen and selling directly to consumers.

In June, the shortages persisted, forcing Ghana to import onions from alternative sources at higher costs. Farmers and transport operators warned that their livelihoods were being affected by the prolonged dispute. Although ECOWAS protocols on free trade were cited, they were not enforced, leaving the dispute unresolved.

During July 2026, Ghanaian unions intensified pressure on the government to intervene. Nigerian exporters maintained their suspension, citing grievances that had not yet been addressed. Onion prices remained unstable in Ghanaian markets, fuelling public frustration.

The government intervenes

Finally, in August 2026, the Minister intervened. At a stakeholder meeting in Accra, she urged both sides to end the impasse to ensure continued trade and economic stability.

“I urge Ghanaian and Nigerian stakeholders to end the impasse and work towards a stable trading relationship,” she said.

She further stressed the need to consider the economic consequences of the dispute and its impact on livelihoods.

“Stronger economic cooperation between the two countries and within the ECOWAS region is essential.

“Allowing the dispute to persist could have wider economic consequences for people who depend on the onion trade for their livelihoods, as well as consumers in both countries,” the Minister added.

Traders respond to Minister's intervention

The Accra Onion Sellers and Importers Cooperative Society, together with the Cross Border Women Traders Association, has commended the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, for her swift intervention in resolving the recent trade dispute between Ghana and Nigeria.

Speaking at the stakeholders' meeting, the PRO of the Accra Onion Sellers and Importers Cooperative Society, Osman Mohammed, stated that all four Ghanaian trucks carrying onions from Nigeria that had been held up had now been released.

“Nigerian trucks which had already arrived in Ghana had completed the offloading of their consignments at markets across the country,” he added.

The Accra Onion Sellers and Importers Cooperative Society said, “We commend the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry for her swift intervention, which has restored the movement of onions between Ghana and Nigeria and prevented further hardship for traders and consumers.”

The Cross Border Women Traders Association also said, “The Minister’s timely action has eased the impasse and ensured that goods delayed at the borders were released. This intervention has saved livelihoods and stabilised the market.”

The traders expressed confidence that the Minister's intervention would pave the way for a lasting solution and stronger collaboration between Ghanaian and Nigerian traders, while contributing to the growth of agricultural trade within the ECOWAS region.