The Agblogbloshie onion market, which had been the central hub for onion trading in Ghana’s capital, Accra, for decades, was relocated to Adjen Kotoku in the Ga West Municipal Assembly. However, the move was met with strong resistance from some traders, prompting the intervention of security forces, who used crowd control measures to enforce compliance.
As part of the relocation, new fire and police posts were established to serve both the market and the surrounding Adjen Kotoku community. After the successful transition, some traders expressed their satisfaction, praising the improved infrastructure. They were particularly pleased with the well-lit market, which allowed them to trade beyond 6 pm, and the block-paved layout that offered a more organized environment compared to their previous location.
Three years after the move, one would have expected smooth operations. However, the market has been plagued by challenges, notably poor road conditions, inadequate infrastructure, and low customer turnout. These issues have even led some traders to return to Agbogbloshie.
The most pressing issue is the poor road network. Many traders report that drivers are hesitant to transport their goods to Accra Central due to the bad roads, forcing them to pay higher fees to convince drivers to make the trip. The delays caused by poor transport conditions often result in spoiled onions, adding to the traders’ losses and further affecting their sales.
The market accommodates not only onion traders but also vendors selling food, groceries, toiletries, and other goods. Many of these traders express frustration, noting that they are the only group to have fully relocated, while other groups, such as tomato and yam sellers, have not made the move as expected.
In addition to the road issues, the traders point to a lack of basic amenities, including tents and chairs, which hampers their operations.
Another significant concern is the rising price of onions, which the traders attribute to the poor road conditions. This sentiment aligns with the views of Yaw Osei-Asare, an agricultural economist and senior lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Agriculture Economics and Agribusiness Department, who explained that bad roads contribute to price hikes. Drivers spend more on vehicle maintenance when transporting goods from farms to the market, and these additional costs are passed on to consumers, further escalating prices.
“When roads are not good, it affects transportation and is then transmitted automatically – so the transport owner will pass on the cost and charge higher, and the driver will in turn pass it on to the trader and the final consumer. When roads are smooth and good, maintenance cost is low, repairs are low – so you don’t have any extra costs,” he explained some time ago.
In July 2024, the year-on-year inflation rate for onions stood at 47.2%, maintaining its position as the 7th highest among the top 20 items with the highest inflation, the same ranking it held in June 2024. Although there was a month-on-month price decrease of 5.3% in July, the inflation rate in June had been significantly higher at 60.6%.
What is particularly concerning is that in May, onions ranked 19th in inflation among the top 20 items, but by June, it had surged to 7th place and remained there in July, despite the slight month-on-month price drop. This trend highlights that onion prices are persistently high, reflecting inflationary pressures in the market.
With deteriorating roads, dwindling customer numbers, and growing logistical challenges, the looming threat of food inflation weighs heavily on Adjen Kotoku and the economy at large.
Onion traders at Adjen Kotoku are urgently appealing to the government to repair the road leading to the new market, which has severely impacted their businesses and their livelihoods amidst these ongoing challenges.
