Traders are busily selling at the booming onion market. Photo: David Andoh
In the heart of Gomoa East District in the Central Region of Ghana, a rapid revolution has occurred. The latest crested onion market, once an undeveloped vast land in the outskirts of Dominase, one of the economic towns in the district, has transformed into a thriving hub of economic activity, commerce, and community culture with an explosion of hope, in the Gomoa East Onion Market.
The development is about a culinary staple that is fueling dreams and sustainable livelihoods for people in one of the country’s poverty-endemic areas.
Borne out of Accra’s ambitious decongestion plans, this market has become more than a relocation success story; it is a beacon of economic transformation, uniting farmers, traders, and dreamers from across West Africa.
The market’s origin can be traced back to a strategic split during the relocation of Accra’s iconic Agbogbloshie onion market to Adjen Kotoku in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
However, the overwhelming number of traders that moved from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku caused much more congestion than expected, forcing them to fight over space allocations. Amid confusion and despair, visionary leaders of the Onion Sellers Association who live in and around Kasoa advocated for a second hub in Gomoa East, foreseeing its potential to uplift rural livelihoods.
The leaders quickly moved to search for a place where they identified a vast land, engaged the chiefs and elders, who, upon seeing the prospects in their plan, sold the land to them.
They also had a discussion with the Gomoa East District Assembly and other relevant stakeholders who played an instrumental role in ensuring the land was released for the project.
The market, which will mark its 4th year in July this year, is the only booming onion market that serves Central, Western, Eastern, and Western North Regions, and there is no doubt that their foresight has borne fruit.
The official market days are Mondays and Thursdays, and Sundays and Wednesdays are the days trucks laden with fragrant onions rumble in from Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and nearby villages, while Ghanaian traders visit from every corner of the country.
At the market is a sprawling traditional market that is fast attracting all kinds of traders from the Greater Accra, Eastern, and Western Regions.
This includes foodstuff sellers, used clothing sellers, and those who deal in plastic products.
The traders complained that the market lacks infrastructure, such as stalls, well-constructed pavement to improve its accessibility and aesthetics, and roads leading to and within the market area.
Sanitation facilities such as public bathrooms, clean and well-maintained bathrooms for market users, places of convenience, and streetlights to make the market areas safe and visible are all lacking.
Any time it rains, some parts of the market become impassable, making it difficult for the traders to do their business.
The current Kasoa-Winneba road construction has affected the frontage of the market, which has further worsened the plight of the traders.
At the market, a bag of onions costs between GHC1,200.00 and GHC1,500.00.
There are also packaged small and medium sizes that ranges from GHC50.00 to GHC300.00
Traders from other regions come in groups with Kia trucks to purchase several bags to go and sell them.
For a 19-year-old school dropout, Richard Agbetoe, the establishment of the market is a turning point for him.
Richard dropped out of school when he lost his mother, and the situation forced him to become a mate for an Aboboyaa [Commercial Tricycle] rider, which often puts his life in danger on the Kasoa-Wineba Highway.
According to him, due to the dangers Aboboyaa riders face on the road, he opted to sell fresh coconuts at Dominasi.
Richard said his new business was not fetching him much until someone asked him to sell his coconuts at the onion market.
Visibly elated, Richard Agbetoe said on each market day, he makes sales of not less than GHC200.00.
Richard says he is working hard to raise funds to learn carpentry.
Hajia Rahinatu, an onion retail trader, praised the executives of the Onion Sellers Association for their vision.
Rahinatu said she was selling at Agbogbloshie, and when the relocation of the market was announced, she became worried, thinking that she might not get a place to continue her business, but the new market has turned out to be better than Agbogbloshie.
Abena Afrah, from Assin Fosu, who had just purchased 16 bags of onions, said the location favours her business, unlike those days when she had to go to the Agbogbloshie market and faced the traffic congestion on the Ordorkor-Kasoa road.
Hannah Gomez, a second-hand clothing seller, said the market has created additional business opportunities for her because it has given her an option to sell on Mondays and Thursdays at the onion market, and also sell at the Kasoa market on Tuesdays and Fridays, thus increasing her weekly sales.
Mr Kwame Boateng, an executive member of the Dominase branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, (GPRTU) who has opened a new branch at the market, commended the chiefs who sold the land to the traders, adding that they could have simply turned them down since most land owners prefer to give their lands for building projects.
He highlighted the numerous employment opportunities that the onion market has created, mentioning, for instance, how ‘okada’ riders were cashing in at the market.
He said most of the people who visit the market from the surrounding communities rely on the commercial motorbike riders.
Kweku Mensah, an okada rider from Potsin who was plying his trade in Accra, said working at the onion market is more profitable and safer than working in Accra.
According to him, police harassment is not rampant, unlike riding in Accra.
In an interview, the Assembly Member for Assin-Dominase Electoral Area, Patrick Abakah, said the market has really helped the community and neighbouring towns, especially the market women who used to carry their goods to Kasoa and other market centres to sell.
According to him, the market’s impact extends beyond commerce, adding that the youth of Gomoa East have an opportunity to be trained in entrepreneurship, while secondary school graduates who once lingered at home now recycle goods and everyday essentials. “Some youths have even learned to recycle plastic waste into dustbins for the community,” the Assembly Member said with pride.
As the saying goes, every good thing has its advantages and disadvantages. Gomoa East is no different; the influx of traders has increased the cost of housing.
For instance, a monthly rent charge of a self-contained apartment, which was Ghc200.00, has been increased to Ghc350.00. A single room self-contained apartment which was GHC150.00, is increased to GHC250.00, while an ordinary single room, which was GH80.00 is now GHC150.00
Bare lands near Dominase are now dotted with stalls and homes, transforming the once empty land into vibrant settlements. “Since the market’s inception, many people have moved here, making our community vibrant and known,” Abakah explains.
Some traders raised concerns about the non-availability of public toilets. The Assembly Member says the District Assembly will partner with private investors to provide toilet facilities for the market.
According to the Assembly member, market days now feature a temporary CHIPS compound, where health workers attend to minor cases. For critical cases, referrals are made to Potsin Polyclinic to handle those emergencies.
With regards to the security in the market, Mr Abakah said the District Police Commander deploys officers during peak hours, while traders and locals form night patrols. “We’re vigilant,” Abakah emphasises.
Our patrols keep everyone safe.”
The market’s ambitions stretch far beyond Ghana’s borders. Foreign traders already bring goods and proposals to build permanent stores, sparking discussions with the Assembly about expansion. “In five to six years, this market could become international,” Abakah declares. “The vision is great, we want it to be recognised worldwide.”
Yet, challenges linger. Traders still lack resting areas, forcing many to rent in Dominase and its neighbouring towns. But even this has spurred growth, as landlords and businesses capitalise on the demand.
Ghanaian wholesalers, bound by a shared reliance on the humble onion, a culinary necessity that now turns the spotlight on the onion business. Women who once balanced baskets on weary heads now negotiate deals with confidence.
Jobless young people can now earn a living.
And elders, like the Assemblyman, watch with hope: “This market isn’t just about onions. It’s about dignity, progress, and the future we’re building together.”
“The onion market is our economic blessing. It will bring long-term prosperity,”Patrick Abakah said.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
