Some onion traders at the Gomoa Dominase market in the Gomoa East Constituency of the Central Region have expressed frustration over the lack of support from the authorities on the ECOWAS sub-region, which they say is worsening their business challenges.
They explained that the recent security challenges in these states, unfavourable exchange rates, and poor road conditions in the sub-region have significantly hindered the importation of onions from Niger, Burkina Faso into the country.
Speaking on the Community Forum on Channel One TV on Friday, November 22, the traders called for urgent interventions to address the hurdles they face in importing and selling perishable goods.
Latif Salau Youdra, an onion seller, lamented the neglect of traders by West African authorities, noting that the sub-region’s failure to address critical issues has left many businesses struggling.
Youdra also pointed to the broader issues affecting neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, and Nigeria, suggesting that ECOWAS should tackle these challenges collectively.
“The West Africa sub-region has failed us. They don’t help us at all. And it is not just a case for onion sellers but importers of perishable goods. In Ghana, we don’t produce a lot of tomatoes. Our tomatoes come from Burkina Faso. Our onion also comes from Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Niger. It appears they are not concerned because they see us to be people doing our local business. But we are all taxpayers.
“If you take a bag of onions to sell, you can imagine the number of taxes or levies the person will have to pay. When we are also coming in, we pay import duties. The West Africa Sub-Region, have to come in and see how best they can help us in West Africa, especially those of us in Ghana.
“Our neighbouring countries are suffering, but what has the ECOWAS done to help these countries? Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger and Nigeria. If they come together, they can fight these insurgencies and make business easy for us,” he stated.
Another trader, Adams Suleman Bandao, highlighted the economic and logistical difficulties exacerbating their struggles. He is thus calling on ECOWAS to collaborate with member states to address insurgencies, improve infrastructure, and provide policies that support trade within the sub-region.
“The Ghana Cedis to the France CFA is very high now. Also, the roads we use are very bad now. In the past when we buy onions from Niger, we could enter Ghana through Burkina Faso. But now we have to go through Nigeria, through to Benin and then Togo before we enter Ghana.
“The roads are bad also the activities of Boko Haram are posing challenges to us. Just about some months ago, our trucks were seized. So, by the time we bring the goods here to Ghana, we are already in debt,” he stated.
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