Stranded onion vendors at the Benin border call for Akufo-Addo’s intervention due to border closure

Stranded onion vendors find themselves at the Benin border, appealing to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his intervention in facilitating the reopening of the border, allowing them entry into Ghana.

The closure of the Benin border, prompted by the recent coup in Niger, has left the onion drivers stranded for an extended period, raising concerns about the onions’ potential deterioration.

Approximately 15 truckloads of onion sellers are concerned that without the President’s involvement in engaging with Benin border authorities, the onions could perish due to the delay.

During an interview, Yakubu Akpeneda, the spokesperson for the onion sellers association, explained, “We have loaded onions from Niger, and they have parked at the Benin border, they are now in Benin, but the border has been locked. They said they locked the border because of the Niger coup. On August 2, they promised to open the border at midnight, but we didn’t hear anything.”

Akpeneda emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We are calling on the authorities to intervene in the matter, else the onions will rot if they keep long on the road. The authorities should help us by talking to authorities in Benin to open the border for us to bring our onions to Ghana. Our trucks are plenty, the trucks are more than 15. And they are all carrying onions”.

He also highlighted the potential repercussions on onion prices within various markets, adding, “The situation will have an impact on prices of onions in the various markets”.

Source – citinewsroom.com