The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has brokered a resolution to the impasse over Nigerian onion trucks detained in Ghana, ending a dispute that threatened regional agricultural trade and prompted fresh calls for lasting reforms.

The Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO/WCA), which confirmed the development on Friday, said the intervention enabled the affected trucks to finally offload their consignments at Kotoku Market in Accra, preventing heavy financial losses for exporters.

While welcoming the breakthrough, the association warned that unless structural issues affecting cross-border trade are addressed, similar crises will continue to disrupt the regional onion market.

“We are pleased to confirm that the affected trucks have now been allowed to offload their consignments. This intervention prevented further losses to exporters and demonstrated ECOWAS’ commitment to promoting regional trade, dialogue and cooperation among member states,” ORO President, Alhaji Aliyu Isa Maitasamu, said in a statement.

He commended the ECOWAS Commission for its swift response, describing the action as a strong demonstration of the regional body’s commitment to protecting the free movement of goods within West Africa.

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The association also acknowledged the contributions of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Ghana’s Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry; the Nigerian and Ghanaian High Commissions; the ECOWAS Trade Directorate; and other government officials, diplomats and private sector stakeholders whose engagements helped resolve the matter.

However, ORO stressed that the resolution is only a temporary fix.

“The intervention addresses only the immediate situation involving the affected trucks. The underlying issues that have repeatedly disrupted the movement of onions within the region remain unresolved and require a sustainable, long-term solution,” Maitasamu said.

To forestall future disputes, the association called on ECOWAS to convene a regional stakeholders’ meeting involving the governments of Ghana, Nigeria and the Niger Republic, onion producers, traders and relevant institutions to develop a common framework for onion trade across the sub-region.

According to ORO, the proposed framework should align with the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, while providing harmonised quality standards, transparent trading rules, improved market access, efficient payment systems and effective dispute resolution mechanisms.

Maitasamu said such a framework would strengthen regional integration, improve food security, boost investor confidence and enhance the competitiveness of the onion value chain across West and Central Africa.

“We reaffirm our commitment to constructive dialogue and stand ready to work with ECOWAS, member states and all stakeholders to develop practical and lasting solutions that advance regional cooperation and shared prosperity,” he added.

The release of the trucks followed concerns raised by ORO over the detention of Nigerian onion consignments in Ghana, a development the association warned was disrupting regional trade, exposing exporters to huge losses and undermining the spirit of economic integration championed by ECOWAS.