The cross-border onion trade between Nigeria and Ghana has resumed after Nigerian exporters called off a five-day strike, restoring commercial activities along a key regional trade corridor.
President of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), Aliyu Maitasamu Isah, confirmed the development, stating that normal transactions have fully recommenced.
“We have resumed transactions. The strike has been suspended, so we are back to normal operations,” he said.
Maitasamu explained that the impasse was resolved on Thursday following high-level diplomatic interventions involving Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana and Ghana’s Minister of Trade.
He noted that while trade has resumed, discussions between both parties are ongoing to reach a comprehensive resolution.
“They met and were able to resolve the issue to some extent. However, negotiations are still ongoing as we work to finalize all outstanding matters,” he added.
The resolution also led to the release of trucks previously detained during the dispute, allowing traders to return to business under existing arrangements.
“They released our trucks, and we have resumed normal operations. We were asked to maintain the status quo and continue trading as before the crisis,” Maitasamu stated.
The strike, which disrupted onion exports earlier in the week, was triggered by rising tensions between Nigerian traders and local groups in Ghana, particularly at the Kotoku Market in Accra.
Reports indicated that Nigerian traders were subjected to harassment, intimidation, and the seizure of onion-laden trucks, prompting NOPPMAN to suspend exports to safeguard its members.
The disruption affected a vital agricultural trade route within the ECOWAS region, raising concerns over potential supply shortages and price fluctuations in Ghana.
On security concerns, Maitasamu disclosed that Ghanaian authorities took action against those responsible for the unrest, including arrests linked to a reported shooting incident at the market.
“The government acted swiftly and apprehended those involved, including the mastermind behind the shooting,” he said, adding that aside from the confiscation of goods, there were no widespread incidents of violence.
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