Onion sellers at the Adjen Kotoku Market in Accra are facing significant financial setbacks after fifteen truckloads of onions worth an estimated 3.1 million Ghana cedis (GHC) spoiled as a result of transport setbacks, weak infrastructure, and the absence of proper storage systems.
The situation developed over several weeks when numerous consignments of onions imported from Nigeria arrived behind schedule after struggling through long, difficult journeys on deteriorated highways. By the time the trucks finally reached Ghana, sizeable amounts of the produce had already begun rotting due to intense heat, insufficient ventilation, and prolonged travel hours. Subsequent heavy rainfall made matters worse, allowing moisture to penetrate the sacks and hastening the decay.
During a visit by the Daily Graphic on Monday, many traders stood by piles of spoiled onions, unable to stop the losses. A strong, unpleasant smell had overtaken the entire market. Numerous sellers appeared visibly frustrated as they attempted, without success, to retrieve anything still usable.
Osman Mohammed Sidi, the spokesperson for the Onion Traders Association, linked the losses to the long miles Nigerian onions travel and the weaker quality of this season’s imported varieties. “Most of the onions coming in now are from Kano instead of Sokoto. The type grown in Kano is usually less hardy,” he noted.
Sellers had no option but to depend on supplies from Kano because onions from Niger, Sokoto, and Burkina Faso were scarce this year. The route from Kano to Accra usually lasts eight to ten days and sometimes extends to twelve days when breakdowns occur. “For onions, even a single day of delay can cause major damage,” Sidi stressed.
Local onion production has not fared any better. According to Sidi, many farmers in Ghana do not grow onion varieties that can handle long storage periods. Since they anticipate immediate sales, any interruption in distribution leads to rapid decay, a challenge made even worse this season by unexpected early rains.
Several farmers and traders have lost their entire capital, with some even thinking of selling personal belongings to recover. “We are pleading with the government to support us,” Sidi appealed, urging that farmers receive training in onion farming and access to reliable storage solutions.
He also expressed frustration that the relocation of the onion market from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku has intensified their difficulties. “The poor roads leading to this new location discourage buyers. Back at Agbogbloshie, even damaged onions found buyers for processing. But here, hardly anyone comes,” he lamented.
Shaibu Ibrahim, one of the affected traders, recounted losing a whole truck of 420 bags of onions brought in from Kano. “We expected to sell each bag for between GHC 1,000 and GHC 1,300. But we couldn’t even raise enough to cover transport costs,” he explained.
Some sellers had to plead with drivers for additional time to settle transportation charges because they made no profit at all. Ibrahim also mentioned that some locally grown onions spoiled before reaching the market because excessive fertiliser application caused larger bulbs that lacked durability.
He called for a move from quantity-based production to quality-focused farming, pointing out that onions from Egypt, Morocco, and China can survive long journeys and remain fresh for months because of their superior quality and storage systems.
Ibrahim further highlighted the absence of insurance backing in the onion business. “The risks are extremely high, so insurance firms hesitate to work with us. A truck can stall, or rain can ruin everything before arrival. Once water enters the load, rotting begins immediately,” he explained.
Farmers and traders are appealing for improved storage facilities, training in high-quality onion production, better roads leading to Adjen Kotoku Market, and access to insurance and financial protection.
These losses reveal broader issues within Ghana’s agricultural supply chain, where poor infrastructure and weak post-harvest systems continue to threaten food security and traders’ livelihoods. Without urgent action, industry actors warn that similar disasters may occur in upcoming seasons.