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He noted that while the immediate crisis had been resolved, more comprehensive measures were needed to prevent similar incidents in future.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has secured the release of five Nigerian trucks loaded with onions that were detained at Kotoku Market in Ghana, bringing an end to a standoff that had threatened trade relations between the two countries.
The Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO/WCA) announced on Saturday that the trucks, which had been held since Tuesday, were released on Friday and allowed to offload their consignments after ECOWAS intervened.
According to the organisation, the vehicles were prevented from delivering their cargo by a traders’ group at the market, disrupting the movement of onions from Nigeria despite existing regional trade agreements.
President of ORO/WCA, Aliyu Maitasamu, described the intervention as timely, saying it prevented additional financial losses for traders and reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to promoting free movement of goods and regional economic cooperation.
He noted that while the immediate crisis had been resolved, more comprehensive measures were needed to prevent similar incidents in future.
Maitasamu urged ECOWAS to work with member states on a permanent framework for regional onion trade, anchored on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System. He said such a framework would help eliminate recurring barriers to cross-border commerce and strengthen confidence among traders.
The release of the trucks also eased concerns over a possible diplomatic dispute between Nigeria and Ghana, as exporters had earlier appealed for official intervention after the prolonged detention of the consignments.
