Onion Exporters Halt Ghana Shipments, Seek ECOWAS Intervention
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The trade dispute between Nigerian onion exporters and their counterparts in Ghana has deepened, with Nigerian onion marketers announcing an indefinite suspension of exports and trading activities to the West African country.
The development has triggered fresh concerns among farmers, producers, exporters, transporters and other players in the onion value chain, as stakeholders fear that a prolonged disruption could inflict serious economic losses on both sides.
The President of the Onion Producers and Marketers Association, Alhaji Aliyu Mai Tasamu, disclosed the decision in Sokoto, calling for urgent intervention by the governments of Nigeria and Ghana to resolve the disagreement.
Mai Tasamu, who spoke to newsmen on Saturday in Sokoto, said that the suspension would remain in force until an amicable and mutually acceptable agreement was reached between the two countries on the modalities governing onion trade.
He said the decision followed what he described as persistent challenges confronting Nigerian onion farmers, exporters and marketers operating within the Ghanaian market.
“We have suspended onion export and trading activities to Ghana indefinitely until an amicable agreement is reached between Nigeria and Ghana on the onion trade,” Mai Tasamu said.
The President who is also a large scale onion farmer stressed that the action was not taken to undermine regional trade but was aimed at drawing the attention of the relevant authorities to the difficulties faced by Nigerian traders and securing a lasting solution to the dispute.
The onion producers’ leader called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to urgently intervene and mediate between Nigeria and Ghana before the disagreement degenerates into a wider trade crisis capable of undermining the principles of regional economic integration.
He urged ECOWAS to bring the two countries to the negotiating table and facilitate a fair, transparent and enforceable framework that would protect legitimate agricultural traders and prevent unilateral actions from disrupting cross-border commerce.
According to him, the intervention of the regional body has become necessary because both Nigeria and Ghana are important members of the West African economic community, while agricultural trade between the two countries provides livelihoods for thousands of people.
Mai Tasamu further appealed to the Federal Government and the Ghanaian authorities to urgently engage representatives of onion farmers, producers, exporters and traders in a comprehensive dialogue aimed at resolving the contentious issues.
He warned that continued restrictions or uncertainty surrounding onion trade could have far-reaching consequences for farmers and businesses dependent on the cross-border market.
Mai Tasamu said onion production and marketing constitute a significant source of livelihood for thousands of Nigerians, including farmers, aggregators, truck drivers, wholesalers and retailers.
He, therefore, urged the authorities to ensure that the dispute did not translate into unnecessary hardship for ordinary farmers and traders who depend on the regional market to sell their produce.
The President also called for the establishment of clear and predictable rules governing the movement of onions between Nigeria and Ghana, stressing that transparency and adherence to agreed trade protocols were essential to preventing future disputes.
According to him, a durable resolution would not only restore the flow of onions between the two countries but would also strengthen confidence in cross-border agricultural commerce across West Africa.
He appealed to all parties to embrace dialogue, saying that ECOWAS mediation could provide the platform needed to prevent the dispute from escalating and safeguard the interests of traders on both sides.
Until a satisfactory agreement is reached, Mai Tasamu maintained that Nigerian onion exporters and marketers would continue with the indefinite suspension of shipments and trading activities involving the Ghanaian market.
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