Onion sellers in Ghana are expressing worries over potential shortages and price hikes due to the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) border restrictions on Niger, following the recent coup d’état in the country. According to Mr. Ali Umar, the Public Relations Officer of the Onion Sellers Association of Ghana, approximately 70% of Ghana’s onions are imported from Niger, making the import restrictions a significant concern for the supply chain.
Mr. Umar highlighted that the closure of Niger’s borders for an extended period could seriously impact the onion business in Ghana, leading to increased prices. Apart from Niger, Ghana also sources about 20% of its onions from Nigeria, 5% from Burkina Faso, and the remaining 5% is locally produced. Given the perishable nature of onions, Mr. Umar expressed hope that Niger would consider allowing the commodity to be imported into Ghana despite the restrictions, citing previous instances where exemptions were granted for essential commodities like onions in other countries.
The situation also affects Ghana’s role as the largest supplier of salt to Niger. The closure of borders could equally disrupt the export of salt to Niger, further exacerbating the economic impact. Mr. Emmanuel Doni-Kwame, the Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Ghana, suggested that other onion-producing countries would need to step up production to fill the potential gap. He emphasized the opportunity for Ghana to increase local onion cultivation to boost domestic production, warning that failing to do so might lead to further price increases. As the situation in Niger unfolds, West African leaders are calling for security, respect for the rule of law, and human rights, as well as efforts to ensure that the economic system remains stable amidst the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS.
