The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, has reacted to the demolition of a building under construction to house staff and visitors in the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, Ghana, on Friday.
According to reports, some armed men invaded the Embassy’s premises located at No.10 Barnes Road, Accra, accompanied by a Ghanaian businessman who had accused the commission of encroaching on his land.
The man was said to have visited the place last week, presenting evidence that he is the real owner of the land. He, however, reportedly returned to the site on Friday in the company of armed men who supervised the demolition.
Officials of the commission reportedly contacted the police but efforts were not made to prevent the demolition.
In a bid to stop the demolition, officials of the commission reportedly contacted the police who was said to have showed up at the site in the process of demolition of the building, but the police allegedly allowed the man to leave the scene without reprimand or questioning.
Reacting to the incidence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated on Twitter on Sunday morning, “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 the Ghanaian Government and demand urgent action to find the perpetrators and provide adequate protection for Nigerians and their property in Ghana”.
It would be recalled that in January 2020, in a statement, Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had said there was no “diplomatic row between Nigeria and the Republic of Ghana”.
Nwonye had said though the lease of the property on No.10 Barnes Road, Accra, has expired, the High Commission was exploring the possibility of renewing the lease agreement with the host authorities.
The building before it was demolished:
The building after it was demolished:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1274703008413167622
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