Govt rebuilds demolished Nigerian High Commission property

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Ghana’s Minister for Foreign and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has advised all foreign missions in Ghana to register and regularize their documents to avoid encroachment by private developers.

This caution follows the demolition of an uncompleted building on the property of the Nigerian High Commission by armed men in Accra about four years ago.

Speaking during a ceremony to hand over the reconstructed structure to the Nigerian authorities, the foreign affairs minister stated that the government of Ghana is committed to providing a safe space for international missions in the country.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to advise that diplomatic missions residing in Ghana periodically review their documents to ensure that they are properly registered and regularized. I say this because it was one of the issues we discovered when this incident occurred,” Ms. Shirley explained.

“And it’s not an excuse, and it can never be an excuse for the unfortunate demolition that took place. But we found that, unfortunately, the Nigerian High Commission had not regularized their documents,” she added.

At the handover ceremony, the Nigerian government expressed appreciation to the Ghanaian authorities for their “timely intervention,” which helped calm the nerves of Nigerians and Ghanaians who were concerned about the potential deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Chimezie Ogu, Director for Nigeria’s Foreign Service Academy, who delivered the remarks on behalf of Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, further explained that during the height of the incident, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana assured them that the building would be restored to its original state—a promise that has been fulfilled after four years.

“I have been properly briefed that the building has been restored to its original state: a block of four (4) bedroom flats to accommodate the staff of the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Accra. The reconstructed building represents more than just a physical structure. It embodies the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that defines our relationship,” Ambassador Ogu said.

This, he added, explains why the Nigerian High Commission has remained silent on compensation for the significant financial loss it incurred due to the demolished building.

According to Ambassador Ogu, the Mission has spent thousands of US dollars renting accommodations for its staff members.

“We appreciate Ghana’s efforts to address the issues surrounding the demolition, including the establishment of a committee to identify the intruders and the commitment to engage with Nigerian officials at the highest level,” the ambassador added.

The government of Ghana is hopeful that in the years to come, it will “deepen” its bonds with Nigeria to promote mutual progress for both countries and all of Africa.

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