It is anticipated that the closure of the Benin border as a result of the coup in Niger will lead to a rise in the price of onions across the various marketplaces located within the country.
The owners of roughly 70 trucks that were transporting onions from Niger to Ghana via Benin have sent a request to Ghana's President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo after finding themselves stranded at the Benin border for an extended period of time. They are pleading with him to intervene in order to facilitate the timely release of the vehicles.
These trucks and their drivers have been stuck at the border for the past few weeks as a result of the coup that took place in Niger. The closing of the border was a direct consequence of the revolution.
The group of onion vendors who are responsible for over 70 truckloads of onions has voiced their worries and emphasised that if the President does not take immediate action, there is a major chance that the onions may rot, which could result in an increase in the price of onions.
Onion scarcity looms as importers remain stranded in Benin
As a direct result of the ongoing political conflict in Niger, the cost of a bag of vegetables has skyrocketed to between GH1,500 and GH1,600, despite the fact that these costs were previously much lower. If the problem is not quickly addressed, players in the industry are concerned that costs could rise to between GH300 and GH4000.
In an interview with Eyewitness News, the spokesperson for the onion dealers, Yakubu Apendiba, revealed that “Monday night, they opened about 35 trucks of onions.” Yakubu Apendiba was quoted as saying, “They opened about 35 trucks of onions.” Additionally, they have left approximately 45 trucks stranded at the Burkina Faso border.
The Ghanaian Ambassador to Benin paid a visit to the truck drivers on the previous Saturday. On Monday night, the truck drivers marched towards the border with Burkina Faso, and some of them were able to get over the Benin border.
However, there are still some people who are held up at the Burkina Faso border. Now, if you come to the onion market today, it is not simple; onions that used to be sold at prices ranging from GH1,000 to GH1,100 are now being sold at prices ranging from GH1,500 to GH1,600. Additionally, there is a scarcity of onions in other locations.
Therefore, we are begging the government to assist us in having a conversation with the President of Burkina Faso in order to ensure that the trucks will be escorted to Ghana.
On July 27, the military of the country of Niger in West Africa made the announcement of a coup on the country's national television.
They claimed that they had done away with the constitution, put a stop to all institutions, and sealed off the frontiers of the country.
Members of the presidential guard detained Mohamed Bazoum, the President of Niger.
During a phone call from United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he was assured of “unwavering support” from Washington.
On August 7, the leaders of the coup shut off the country's airspace, citing the potential for military involvement from neighbouring neighbours. The closure will remain in effect until further notice.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had already issued a warning that it could resort to the use of force if President Mohamed Bazoum was not reinstated by Sunday at 23:00 GMT.
A spokesperson for the junta has stated that the armed forces of Niger are prepared to defend the country.
