A cross-border trade dispute has left several Ghana-bound trucks stranded in Kebbi State, raising concerns over supply disruptions and losses in the vegetable market.
The trucks, carrying onions and other perishable goods from the Republic of Niger, were reportedly intercepted and held in Samia by suspected armed men, preventing them from continuing their journey to Ghana.
The development is believed to be a retaliatory action linked to tensions between traders in Ghana and Nigeria. Reports suggest that some Nigerian traders in Accra had earlier faced challenges offloading their goods, prompting a backlash against Ghanaian transporters.
Drivers, who have been stranded for nearly three days, say their cargo is at risk of spoiling, with significant financial losses looming if the situation is not resolved quickly.
“We’ve been locked here for almost three days. Our goods are perishing. We are appealing to the government for help,” one of the drivers, Awudu Tiajni, said.
The trucks typically follow a regional trade route through Nigeria, Benin, and Togo before reaching Ghana, making the disruption a potential threat to supply chains across multiple countries.
Traders in Accra say the situation is also rooted in disagreements over the distribution of imported goods. According to onion trader Alhaji Fuseini Atiiga, concerns have been raised by Nigerian counterparts over how consignments are allocated among trader associations in Ghana.
The stranded drivers are now calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene diplomatically to secure their release and prevent further escalation of the dispute.
