Akufo-Addo Apologizes to Buhari over Demolition at Nigerian High Commissioner’s Residence
Akufo-Addo said some suspects have been arrested in connection to the incident
Jonas Danquah 
Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo has apologized to the President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari over the demolition of a building at the residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner in Accra.
This comes after tensions rose over the incident described by the Nigerian Community as “a violation of international code of Friendship against Nigeria”, which has the tendency of sparking a bitter diplomatic row.
The Nigerian High Commissioner’ residence in Accra, was reportedly stormed by armed men with bulldozers, who demolished a block of uncompleted apartments on the property on Friday (June 19) night.
The building was being constructed to house staff and visiting diplomats to the High Commission.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry had earlier condemned the incident and promised investigation into the matter to find the perpetrators.
However, the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs vowed to “employ and deploy all legislative means within our disposal, including exploring and invoking all necessary rules, regulations and instruments that guide our common membership in other Parliaments, to compel the Republic of Ghana to answer for this act of gross violation and abuse of the immunities of the Nigeria mission and its staff”
Some section of the National Association of Nigerian Traders had also demanded immediate action amid pockets of protests.
In a latest twist, a statement released by the Nigerian Presidency revealed that President Akufo-Addo, over a telephone conversation, apologised for the incident.
“Pres Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana today spoke with Pres Buhari, expressing his sincere apology for demolition of a building on the premises of Nigerian High Commission in Accra, Ghana,” the Nigerian Presidency said in a tweet on June 23, 2020.
President Akufo-Addo further revealed that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the act and assured of thorough investigations to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book, the release signed by
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu further added.
“Earlier in the day, it further emerged that some suspects had been arrested, and will be arraigned in court.”
Meanwhile, Paramount Chief of the Osu Traditional Area Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI says the Nigerian High Commission has trespassed on a plot of land belonging to the Osu Stool.
He stressed in a press release issued June 21 that the said parcel of land and the entire Osu Mantse layout is not state land but is a part of its land.
