Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has urged all foreign missions in Ghana to ensure their properties are properly documented to prevent encroachment by private developers.
Her call comes after the demolition of an uncompleted building belonging to the Nigerian High Commission by armed men in Accra four years ago.
Speaking at a ceremony to officially hand over the reconstructed building to Nigerian authorities, Ms. Ayorkor Botchwey reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to providing secure spaces for international missions.
“I would like to take this opportunity to advise diplomatic missions in Ghana to periodically review their documentation to ensure their properties are properly registered and regularized,” she said. “This is important because, during investigations, we discovered that the Nigerian High Commission had not regularized their documents. While this is no excuse for the unfortunate demolition, it is an issue that needs addressing.”
The Nigerian government, represented by Ambassador Chimezie Ogu, Director of Nigeria’s Foreign Service Academy, expressed gratitude to Ghana for its intervention and the eventual reconstruction of the demolished property.
Speaking on behalf of Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Ogu acknowledged the efforts of Ghana’s government, stating, “At the height of the incident, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs assured us that the building would be restored to its original state. Today, that promise has been fulfilled.”
The reconstructed building, a block of four-bedroom flats designed to accommodate staff of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, symbolizes more than just a physical restoration. “It embodies the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that defines the relationship between Ghana and Nigeria,” he added.
Ambassador Ogu also noted that the High Commission had incurred significant costs, spending thousands of dollars to rent accommodation for staff during the four-year period. However, in the spirit of continued friendship, Nigeria chose not to demand compensation for the financial losses incurred.
“We also commend Ghana’s establishment of a committee to identify the culprits behind the demolition and its engagement with Nigerian officials at the highest levels to address the matter,” he said.
Ghana’s government, for its part, reaffirmed its dedication to strengthening diplomatic ties with Nigeria and fostering mutual progress for the benefit of both nations and the African continent as a whole.
With the handover of the reconstructed building, both countries expressed optimism about deepening their bonds to promote peace, cooperation, and development across Africa.
