Government to rebuild Demolished Structure at Nigerian High Commissioner’s Residence

Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said government will be taking necessary steps to ensure that the demolished structure at the Nigerian High Commissioner’s residence is rebuilt as soon as possible.

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.

The incident sparked tensions, with Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs vowing  to “employ and deploy all legislative means within [their] disposal…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.”

Speaking on the matter, Ayorkor Botchway, said the demolition at the High Commission was a breach of agreement as the commission had duly made payment for that parcel of land, on which the property was.

Addressing a press conference in Accra in the wake of the demolition, the Minister said although preliminary investigations show that the High Commission did not have the land title certificate, it had receipts of payment on the land made by Banker’s Draft, payable to the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission.

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Consequently, a committee made up of; representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Lands Commission, the National Security Secretariat and the Ghana Police Service, have been set up to investigate the incident.

The Minister said, per the committee's recommendation, the Lands Commission will proceed to issue a Land Title Certificate to the High Commission of Nigeria to regularize its ownership of the property in question and also take immediate steps to engage the Osu Stool and all stakeholders on the impasse.

Shirley Ayorkor Botwey  assured that Ghana will not relent on its primary obligation to protect and guarantee the safety of members of the Diplomatic Corps.