Ghana’s Foreign Ministry apologized to the Nigerian government for an attack on the Accra building of the Nigerian High Commission.
Some armed men reportedly invaded the building in the Ghanaian capital, on Friday night, destroying some apartments under construction.
Ghanaian media reported that a businessman had earlier accused the high commission of encroaching on his land.
This paper says Nigerian embassy recently acquired the demolished building.
Angered by the incident, some Nigerians in the country protested the destruction, calling on the Ghanaian authorities to act.
Videos of the protesters lamenting how the armed men broke into the building and destroyed it was shared on social media.
However, Ghana’s foreign ministry said in a press release that it considers the act as an infringement of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations – an international treaty that sets out a structure for diplomatic relations among countries.
It expressed regret at the demolition and said; “Investigations are ongoing to unravel the facts of the matter and bring perpetrators to book. Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana has beefed up security at the said facility and the situation is under control.”
“While expressing regrets over the incident, the Ministry wishes to reassure the diplomatic community in Ghana and the Nigerian High Commission in particular that Ghana remains a law abiding country that upholds the principle of the rule of law.”
It should be noted that the Government of Nigeria has vowed to investigate the demolition.
Nigeria’s foreign minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, condemned the development in a tweet on Sunday, and described it as ‘criminal and Outrageous’.
His tweet reads:
“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. #StayHomeSaveLives #COVID19 @NigeriaGov @DigiCommsNG @GhanaMFA”
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. #StayHomeSaveLives #COVID19 @NigeriaGov @DigiCommsNG @GhanaMFA
— Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) June 21, 2020
In a separate tweet, the Director-General of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, assured that the agency will reach out to its citizens in Ghana.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs @GeoffreyOnyeama will update appropriately . @nidcom_gov is in touch with Nigerians in Ghana,” she wrote, replying a social media user who urged that the lives of Nigerians in the country should be secured.
The Minister of Foreign Affsirs @GeoffreyOnyeama will update appropriately . @nidcom_gov is in touch with Nigerians in Ghana https://t.co/bgyul07BNO
— Crypto Genesis 100x 📖🔥🚀 (@vpd_2s) June 21, 2020
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