Nigeria resumes onion exports to Ghana after trade dispute

Nigeria has resumed onion exports to Ghana following diplomatic intervention by officials from both nations. The resumption follows reports of truck seizures and market access difficulties at Accra’s Kotoku Market.

Nigeria exports approximately 100,000 tonnes of onions to Ghana annually, an industry valued at roughly N945 billion (US$620 million). The National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) had previously lifted an export suspension in August.

The dispute has underscored persistent non-tariff barriers within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). While the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme aims to eliminate customs duties and barriers, traders frequently encounter delays, documentation issues, and local restrictions that risk product loss for perishable goods.

As Nigeria seeks to expand agricultural exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), industry leaders have called for permanent bilateral frameworks to manage market access, offloading, and safety standards to ensure predictable border procedures.