Nigeria High Commission to Ghana forced out of premises
Premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra
Ghana and Nigeria are heading for a diplomatic showdown as the Nigeria High Commission is being forcefully evicted from its diplomatic property in the capital, Accra.
The property located at No.10 Barnes Road, Accra, has been reallocated to Amaco Microfinance since 26 August 2019 by Ghana's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources with the consent of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
A statement from the Nigeria High Commissioner to Ghana, Olufemi Michael Abikoye, dated 31st December 2019, said a letter dated 27th December 2019, was received from Solicitors acting on behalf of Amaco Microfinance Company Limited, Accra, "giving instructions for the High Commission to vacate its diplomatic property at No.10 Barnes Road, Accra.
It added: "Failure to comply within the stipulated time will lead to depositing the Mission's belongings at the nearest Accra police station."
Giving the latest update on the property, Amb Abikoye said: "as at 31st December 2019, the property has been broken into by the company and is being ransacked with the likelihood of being effectively occupied."
The High Commissioner said the letter is coming following the continuous violation of the diplomatic property and a formal notification that it has been reallocated to the Microfinance.
Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that the Nigerian Government failed to renew the property following expiration thus, "the property reverted to the state in compliance with Article 258 of Ghana's 1992 Constitution."
However, Amb Abikoye expressed surprise that the reallocation was done "without recourse to the High Commission" despite having requested severally for "a mutual resolution of the matter, affirming that Nigerian Government is examining the situation and that an appropriate directive was being awaited."
He, therefore, enjoined the Federal Government to convey an appropriate response to the Ghanaian leadership as regards the reallocation and request for vacation of the diplomatic property.
Ghana's Foreign Affairs minister Ayorkor Botchway with Spokesperson of Nigeria High Commission
Nigeria's foreign affairs ministry has dismissed reports of a potential diplomatic row with Ghana following reports eviction of the country's High Commission in Ghana.
A statement signed by the spokesperson of the ministry Ferdinand Nwonye said "The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to news circulating in the social media that its property on No. 10 Barnes Road, Accra, Ghana has been 'violated' by the host authorities and that there is a diplomatic row between Nigeria and the Republic of Ghana. The Ministry wishes to state categorically that the news reports are untrue.
"The Ministry wishes to clarify that the said property under reference was in use by the Federal Ministry of Finance, since 1957, on leasehold and was later bequeathed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs".
It added: "The lease is said to have expired recently and the High Commission has been exploring the possibility of renewing the lease agreement with the host authorities. It should be noted that the building is not physically occupied but the Mission has some of its properties within the premises.
"It should further be reiterated that the property is not housing either the Residence of the High Commissioner or the Chancery or staff quarters. However, talks are still on-going between the Mission and appropriate host authorities. There is, therefore, no imminent diplomatic row with Ghana as being speculated by a section of the media. We wish to assure all and sundry that the Ministry is on top of the situation".
Just published "The African Corporation, 'Africapitalism' and Regional Integration in Africa" (September 2018). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781785362538.
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