The Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has apologised to the Nigerian Government over the demolition of a building owned by the Nigerian High Commission to Ghana. The Ministry disclosed that it has begun the process of prosecuting the perpetrators.
The ministry noted that the destruction of the building being constructed to house staff and visiting diplomats to the High Commission was in breach of the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations.
The plot of land in dispute houses the residence of the Nigerian High Commissioners residence and four other buildings. It was allocated to the Nigerian government in the sixties.
A portion of the land had remained undeveloped until eight years ago when building work began. A Ghanaian businessman claims legitimate ownership of the land. Nigeria and the Ghanaian governments resolved the ownership issue when Nigeria paid fifty million Ghanaian cedis for the land.
Building works commenced on a portion of the land after all approvals were sought and obtained from regulatory authorities.
Reports say officials will be visiting the Nigerian High Commission tomorrow to access the damage done to the property.
There is no report of any arrest or questioning of the acts of the policemen who drove in for a worrisome handshake.
A Ghanaian official statement said, “It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration that unidentified individuals had allegedly breached the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra and demolished its property under construction around 10.30am, on Friday June 19, 2020. Patmos Media Line however insists the demolition was done in the night and wonders why night.
“Accordingly, investigations are ongoing to unravel the facts of the matter and bring the perpetrators to book. Meanwhile, the government of Ghana has beefed up security at the said facility and the situation is under control.”
The Ghanaian government, while expressing regrets over the incident, assured the diplomatic community in Ghana and the Nigerian High Commission that Ghana remains a law-abiding country that upholds the principle of the rule of law.
Ghana Foreign Affairs Statement on Nigerian diplomatic property
