In a bid to address the economic fallout caused by the ongoing sanctions on Niger, Abudu Seidu, the President of the Ghanaian community in Niger, has made a fervent appeal to the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The sanctions, aimed at pressuring Niger's military junta to reinstate the ousted President, have led to closed borders that are wreaking havoc on cross-border trade.
Seidu highlighted the dire situation faced by onion traders, a vital industry for both Niger and its neighboring Ghana.
With the closed borders preventing the movement of goods, truckloads of onions are left to rot, causing significant losses for traders.
Seidu's plea for lifting the sanctions came during an interview with Alfred Ocansey on TV3’s Ghana Tonight.
"A lot of traders deal in onions and are currently stuck with trucks full of their onions at the borders. If the ECOWAS can take the sanctions out, I think it will be very good because now all the borders have been closed," Seidu emphasized.
He further called for diplomatic efforts to engage with the junta and find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
The Ghanaian community leader stressed the importance of swift action, as many livelihoods depend on the vibrant trade between the two nations.
While the border closures have caused immediate hardships, Seidu assured that the community's members were, for the moment, managing well with their basic needs.
The political turmoil in Niger escalated when a military junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, assumed control.
ECOWAS initially set a seven-day ultimatum for the junta to reinstate the former President, Mohamed Bazoum.
However, as the ultimatum lapsed, the ECOWAS Authority deliberated on alternative measures, including the potential deployment of a Standby Force, to address the crisis.
In the midst of these deliberations, the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff convened at Ghana’s military base, Burma Camp, to finalize the logistics for the Standby Force's possible deployment.
The situation remains tense, as ECOWAS grapples with the best approach to restore stability in Niger and alleviate the adverse impact of the sanctions on both the country and its regional partners.