Nigeria, Ghana in diplomatic row over demolition of buildings in Nigerian High Commission compound

21 Juin 2020

Abuja, Nigeria, June 21 (Infosplusgabon) – A diplomatic row has erupted between Nigeria and Ghana as unknown gunmen entered the Nigerian High Commission in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Friday and destroyed some apartments that were under construction.

The affected buildings were being constructed to house staff and visitors of the High Commission but a Ghanaian businessman had complained that the building encroached on his land.

Ghana's foreign ministry says it has begun investigations into the demolition and to “unravel the facts of the matter and bring the perpetrators to book”.

The Nigerian Federal Government has condemned the attacks, describing them as criminal and outrageous and demanded “urgent action” to find the perpetrators.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, said via his verified Twitter handle @GeoffreyOnyeama on Sunday that the federal government was already engaging with the Ghanaian authorities to urgently bring the perpetrators to book and protect the lives of Nigerians in Ghana.

Onyeama said: “We strongly condemn two outrageous criminal attacks in Accra, #Ghana, on a residential building in our diplomatic premises by unknown persons in which a bulldozer was used to demolish the building.

“We are engaging with the Ghanaian government and we demand urgent action to find the perpetrators and provide adequate protection for Nigerians and their properties in Ghana.”

This is the second time a row has erupted between the two countries. On 3 January, 2020, Nigerians and their property were attacked.

Then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied reports of a diplomatic row after reports emerged that the Nigeria High Commission was being forcibly evicted from the diplomatic property in Accra.

The Spokesperson of the Ministry, Ferdinand Nwonye, said the property on No. 10 Barnes Road, Accra, was “in use by the Federal Ministry of Finance, since 1957, on leasehold and was later bequeathed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”.

Mr Nwonye, however, noted that the lease on the property expired recently and the “High Commission has been exploring the possibility of renewing the lease agreement with the host authorities”.

He said the “property in question is not housing either the Residence of the High Commissioner or the Chancery or staff quarters”.

Mr Nwonye said conversations are still being held between the mission and appropriate host authorities.

Last Friday, the businessman who allegedly owns the property visited the place with evidence to show that he is the rightful owner of the land and returned later, accompanied by armed men, who carried out the demolition.

Officials stated that efforts were made by the Nigerian High Commission to contact the Ghana Police but nothing was done to stop the demolition.

Meawhile, the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has begun investigations into the demolition of the building to “unravel the facts of the matter and bring the perpetrators to book”.

In a statement on Sunday in Accra, the Ministry said security at the facility has been beefed up.

“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 Nigeria High Commission in Accra and demolished the property under construction around 10:30 pm on Friday, 19th June, 2020.

“The Ministry views with concern this development which is a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR, 1961). 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 Ministry gave the assurance that the government will not relent on its efforts to “guarantee the safety of Members of the Diplomatic Corps in Ghana”.

Ghana's Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has descibed the developents as "very disturbing" with the "possibly devastating consequences for Ghana-Nigeria relations if not well managed with all the urgency required".

He expressed the hope that both sides will urge calm and "do everything to prevent an escalation in the spirit of our enviable ancestral ties".

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/CVX/GABON2020

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