YAKUBU Akteniba, an onion seller at Adjen Kotoku market in Ghana, usually experiences bustling Saturday mornings with customers eagerly haggling over fresh produce. However, since early August, his shed has fallen quiet as business takes a nosedive, all thanks to disruptions in the food supply chain across West Africa.
‘We used to receive at least 20 truckloads of onions daily here,’ Akteniba, who represents the market’s 200-member onion sellers’ association, lamented. ‘The number of trucks coming here has now dropped to between two and five daily… If things don’t change, most of us will be out of business,’ he told Al Jazeera.
The source of this crisis is Niger, situated four countries away from Ghana, but still a member of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). On July 26, the Nigerien presidential guard overthrew Mohamed Bazoum, who had been democratically elected as the country’s leader since 2021. In response, ECOWAS imposed several sanctions, including the closure of borders surrounding Niger, effectively cutting off trade with the nation.
This decision has ignited a growing food crisis throughout West Africa. Niger plays a pivotal role as the leading exporter of dry onions in the region, responsible for nearly two-thirds of total exports in 2021, as reported by the market intelligence platform Indexbox. The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) recorded Niger’s onion exports in 2021 at a value of $23.4 million, ranking the country as the world’s 31st largest exporter of onions.
In the same year, onions were the sixth-most exported product from Niger, with Ghana ($21.7 million), Cote d’Ivoire ($1.15 million), Benin ($451,000), Togo ($84,500), and Nigeria ($35,100) being the primary destinations. Strikingly, all five of these countries have supported ECOWAS sanctions on Niger.
The repercussions of these sanctions have led to a scarcity of onions and other food commodities like beans and millet, causing prices to skyrocket in areas where supplies still exist. Akteniba emphasised the impact, saying, ‘They [ECOWAS] have blocked the vehicles from coming.’
Before the political upheaval, a 100kg sack of onions was priced at $61, but now the cost has nearly doubled to $105. A 25kg sack of onions, which used to sell for $17, now costs $27 since the borders were sealed.
Onions hold a special place in West African cuisine, and their increasing cost is causing concerns among residents, particularly those struggling with economic hardships. Deborah Biney, a 40-year-old mother of two, told Al Jazeera, ‘Before the political situation in Niger, I was buying three big pieces of onions for $0.17 in my neighbourhood, but now I use the same amount to buy just one piece.’
Beyond their culinary importance, onions offer numerous health benefits. Nutritionist Patience Naa Adjeley Adjei underscored their significance, stating, ‘Onions have a distinct flavor that adds to dishes and stimulates appetite… They are low in calories and fat but rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.’
Nigeria supplies 20 percent of the onions consumed in Ghana, while Burkina Faso contributes about 5 percent. Ghana’s local onion production covers just 5 percent of its consumption, leaving a significant gap. Food and Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong noted this dependence on Niger, stating that approximately 70 percent of onions, valued at about $2 million weekly, are imported from Niger.
To address this vulnerability, Acheampong revealed the government’s intentions to develop an ‘aggressive five-year plan’ aimed at achieving food security and resilience. The plan seeks to ensure year-round production, reducing the need for imports of essential commodities like tomatoes and onions.
As Niger’s political situation remains uncertain, experts warn of dire humanitarian consequences and a looming food security crisis in the region. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported a rising trend in acute food insecurity in West and Central Africa this year, exacerbated by insecurity in conflict-affected areas of Burkina Faso and Mali.
The Sahel region’s escalating armed conflicts further impede the food supply chain, particularly in terms of transporting goods. Ziad Hamoui, co-chair of the Food Trade Coalition for Africa, called for a reconsideration of the regional bloc’s sanctions, advocating for continued regional trade flows.
Hamoui emphasised the importance of maintaining open channels for dialogue and dispute resolution among countries to address challenges effectively. Additionally, trucks carrying onions and other foodstuffs remain stranded at borders, raising concerns of spoilage and depreciation.
For Ghanaian vegetable traders, this crisis serves as a wake-up call to invest in local onion production. ‘Maybe, this is a wake-up call for our government to invest more in growing our own onions here in Ghana… We need to find a solution to this situation,’ Akteniba said.