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The Authorities of Ghana will be certain that the demolished Nigerian Excessive Fee constructing in Accra is restored to its unique state, as quickly as attainable, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Overseas Affairs and Regional Integration, has acknowledged.

Talking at a media briefing, on Wednesday, in Accra to present an replace on the difficulty, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey stated:“Let me state, emphatically, that the Authorities takes a critical view of the violation of the diplomatic premises.

“While expressing deep regrets over the incident, I want to guarantee the Authorities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the Authorities of Ghana will pursue this matter to its logical conclusion and be certain that the perpetrators are sanctioned in accordance with the legal guidelines of the land.

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The Minister, nonetheless, advised the media to be circumspect of their reportage on the matter.

She stated the relations between Ghana and Nigeria predated the independence of each nations and had been sure by blood ties.

Through the years, these relations had been nurtured and had produced wonderful cooperation manifested by the wonderful relations between their present Presidents: President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and President Muhammadu Buhari, who had spoken on this matter.

She stated Ghana remained a law-abiding nation, which upheld the rules of the rule of regulation the place due course of was adopted always.

She gave an account of the preliminary findings of investigations into the incident concerning the breach of the premises of the Excessive Fee, positioned at 19/21 Julius Nyerere Road, Ringway Estates, East Ridge, Accra, on Friday, 19th June, at about 2300 hours.

She stated a committee comprising officers of the Ministry of Overseas Affairs and Regional Integration, the Lands Fee, Nationwide Safety Secretariat and the Ghana Police Service was constituted to research the incident and make applicable suggestions.

The preliminary findings by the Committee indicated that the Excessive Fee of Nigeria offered letter referenced SCR/LCS 74/VOL.

2/95 dated seventh August, 2000, granting allocation and proper of entry to the Excessive Fee, a four-acre parcel of land within the Accra, Osu Mantse Format.

She stated the Fee offered the receipts of funds on the stated land, made by Banker’s Draft payable to the Govt Secretary of the Lands Fee.

Nonetheless, the Land Title Certificates had not been issued to the Excessive Fee.

She stated the Lands Fee acknowledged that the stated four-acre parcel of land was a part of the vested land, which was owned by the Osu Stool and managed by the Lands Fee.

The Minister stated in June 2019, the Osu Stool requested the Higher Accra Regional Lands Fee to grant a lease in respect of part of the stated land to a 3rd get together.

She stated the Lands Fee acknowledged that per its processes of granting leases, its data didn’t reveal any earlier transaction in respect of the land in query.

Madam Ayorkor Botchwey stated the Lands Fee revealed {that a} letter referenced AC 14826 of 4th July, 2019, signed by the Regional Lands Officer, and addressed to the Excessive Fee of Nigeria, knowledgeable them that the Osu Stool had requested the Lands Fee to grant a lease on the land in query to a 3rd get together.

The Lands Fee, subsequently, suggested the Excessive Fee of Nigeria to supply the related paperwork on the possession of the land, however the former didn’t obtain any response.

She stated in view of the silence of the Excessive Fee, the Lands Fee went forward and issued a Land Title Certificates protecting the stated parcel of land to a 3rd get together.

She stated the Lands Fee, nonetheless, had confirmed that the letter of seventh August, 2000, offered by the Excessive Fee of Nigeria granting allocation and proper of entry to the Excessive Fee, was real and, certainly, emanated from its Head Workplace.

The Minister stated sadly as a result of the Excessive Fee didn’t get hold of a lease following the allocation letter, or proceed to acquire a Land Title Certificates or perhaps a constructing allow for the brand new property, a search by the Lands Fee didn’t present that any correct documentation had been obtained in respect of the property.

Nonetheless, the Minister emphasised: “It’s value noting that Articles 22 and 30 of the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations stipulate that the premises of the Mission in addition to the non-public residence of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable.

Thus, the incident of Friday, 19th June, 2020 constitutes a breach of the Conference,” Madam Ayokor Botcwey stated.

She stated in mild of the above, the Authorities of Ghana had determined the Lands Fee would challenge a letter to the Osu Conventional Council stating that in August 2000, a proper provide was made to the Excessive Fee of Nigeria in respect of the parcel of land in query; the provide was accepted by the Excessive Fee and the funds made, accordingly, constituting a contract.

She stated the Lands Fee would proceed to challenge a Land Title Certificates to the Excessive Fee of Nigeria to regularise its possession of the property in query.

She stated the Authorities would additionally take fast steps to interact the Osu Stool and all stakeholders on the deadlock.

In the meantime, she famous that following the arrest of some individuals linked to the breach of the premises, the Legal Investigations Division would expedite motion on investigations, given the fragile nature of the matter and its potential ramifications for bilateral relations.

The Minister stated the Excessive Fee would take the suitable steps to acquire constructing permits for the development; including that in view of the above, the Authorities of Ghana would actively have interaction the Nigerian Authorities on the highest degree to deal with the deadlock and assist calm tensions in each nations.

Madam Ayorkor Botchwey assured the Diplomatic Group in Ghana and the Excessive Fee of Nigeria particularly, that the Authorities of Ghana wouldn’t relent on its major obligation to guard and assure the security of the Members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Following the demolition of an residence block on the disputed land on Friday, the Osu Conventional Council issued an announcement, saying the land belonged to Stool and the Excessive Fee had encroached on it as a result of it had not entered into any lease settlement with the Fee.

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