Five Nigerian onion trucks that were detained at Kotoku Market in Ghana have been released. The action followed an order from the Economic Community of West African States, ending a tense situation that could have strained relations between Nigeria and Ghana.

The Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa confirmed that the trucks were allowed to offload their goods on Friday.

The group’s president, Aliyu Maitasamu, said the intervention prevented further financial losses for exporters and showed ECOWAS’s commitment to regional trade.

Nigerian traders regularly supply onions to Ghana, with about 16 trucks leaving the country each week. Ghanaian buyers also purchase large quantities without issues under normal circumstances. The recent detention by a traders’ group disrupted this flow despite existing trade agreements.

The onion association thanked the Nigerian and Ghanaian ministries of trade, high commissions, and ECOWAS officials for helping resolve the matter quickly. It warned, however, that the release only fixed the immediate problem and that deeper issues still need attention.

The group has called on ECOWAS to organise a proper dialogue involving Nigeria, Ghana, and Niger to create clear rules for onion trade across the region. Such a framework would prevent future disputes, support food security, and strengthen cooperation among West African countries.