Nigeria, Ghana resume onion trade after five-day strike, diplomatic talks secure truck releases

NIGERIA – Cross-border onion trade between Nigeria and Ghana has resumed after a five-day strike by Nigerian exporters, following diplomatic interventions that secured the release of detained trucks and restored normal operations along the key West African trade corridor.

Aliyu Maitasamu Isah, President of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, confirmed that transactions have resumed. “We have resumed transactions. The strike has been suspended, so we are back to normal operations,” he said.

The resolution followed engagement by officials from both countries, including Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana and Ghana’s Minister of Trade.

“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,” Maitasamu said.

The development led to the release of detained trucks and the restoration of trading operations.

The earlier suspension followed tensions between Nigerian traders and local groups at Kotoku Market in Accra. Reports indicated that traders faced harassment, intimidation, and truck seizures, prompting exporters to halt shipments.

Further, the disruption affected a key agricultural trade route across the ECOWAS region and raised concerns about supply availability and price levels in Ghana.

For investors and food business owners across West Africa, the brief but disruptive strike highlights the fragility of cross-border agricultural supply chains. The five-day suspension showed how localized disputes can trigger broader market instability.

Maitasamu noted that Ghanaian authorities responded to incidents linked to the unrest. “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.

Although the flow of produce has returned to its previous status quo, industry leaders emphasize that ongoing discussions are necessary to ensure long-term regional stability.

For investors, the incident highlights the importance of trade credit insurance, diversified sourcing options, and engagement with regional trade bodies to protect against sudden route disruptions.

As West African economic integration deepens under the ECOWAS framework, resolving such disputes through diplomatic channels rather than prolonged strikes will be critical to maintaining food security and price predictability across the region.

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