Onion vendors in Ghana have reached out to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, appealing for his intervention to facilitate the release of their stranded trucks from Niger.

Their concern stems from the apprehension that failure to release these trucks could trigger a surge in onion prices.

Numerous truckloads of onions currently remain held at Ghana's northern border due to the prevailing military takeover in Niger, which has led to the imposition of ECOWAS sanctions on the country.

The onion truck drivers have found themselves in a state of limbo for several days at the border due to the enforced closure of both land and air borders between ECOWAS member states and Niger.

The leader of the Accra Onion Importer Association, Sani Abubakar, emphasized that the anticipated outcome could entail a significant rise in onion prices, potentially leading to a shortage in supply.

During a media engagement he indicated that “For now, we are at a loss, we have a lot of trucks stuck at the border. Some are at the Mali border, Burkina Faso, and Benin so we are appealing to the government to intervene. If care is not taken we are going to sell one bag of onion at 3000 cedis.”

Presently, a sack of onions is being retailed within the price range of ¢1,300 to ¢25,000, which contrasts with the previous rate of ¢1,000 cedis.

In light of this circumstance, Dr. Charles Nyaaba, the Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, emphasized that the prevailing political instability in Niger is bound to exert an impact on the inflow of onions and other essential commodities into Ghana.

Dr. Nyaaba further noted that the state of affairs in Niger is anticipated to have repercussions on the importation of livestock into Ghana.

During an appearance on the Ghana Tonight show aired on TV3 on Tuesday, August 8, he underscored the potential consequences of the situation,

Presently, a sack of onions is being retailed within the price range of ¢1,300 to ¢25,000, which contrasts with the previous rate of ¢1,000 cedis.

In light of this circumstance, Dr. Charles Nyaaba, the Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, emphasized that the prevailing political instability in Niger is bound to exert an impact on the inflow of onions and other essential commodities into Ghana.

Dr. Nyaaba further noted that the state of affairs in Niger is anticipated to have repercussions on the importation of livestock into Ghana.

During an appearance on the Ghana Tonight show aired on TV3 on Tuesday, August 8, he underscored the potential consequences of the situation

Mr. Nyaaba also indicated that although Ghanaian farmers are producing these commodities, the local production is not enough to meet the demand on the market, hence the reliance on neighboring countries.

He said “In Ghana, it is not the case that we don’t have the potential to produce the same. When you take onions, which we are getting 100 percent from Niger, we also get seeds from Niger.

“…When there is no water, you can’t produce onions. So if you look at the farmers who produce onions, most of them are from the White Volta basin around Bawku, Zebilla, Bolgatanga, they produce the bulk of the onions, but is still highly insignificant to meet our consumption.”