Thousands of onion bags rot at Adjen Kotoku as traders call for help

More than a thousand bags of onions have gone rotten at the Adjen Kotoku Market in Accra, leaving traders counting huge losses and appealing to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for urgent intervention.

The traders attribute the massive spoilage to poor storage conditions and low patronage, challenges they say have worsened in recent weeks. Many of them are reportedly struggling to recover their investments, as onions, being highly perishable, cannot withstand prolonged exposure to heat and humidity without proper preservation.

According to the affected traders, the market lacks adequate ventilation and modern storage facilities, causing large quantities of onions to rot within days. Some lamented that they purchased their produce through loans, making the financial losses even harder to bear.

They also complained of reduced customer turnout since the relocation of the onion market from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku, citing transportation challenges and high costs as major factors affecting sales.

The traders are therefore calling on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to provide improved storage systems, technical support, and market access programmes to help prevent further losses. They further urged authorities to engage stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the recurring problem and make the Adjen Kotoku Market more efficient for onion trading.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is yet to officially respond to the situation.

By: Bawa Musah

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