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Reps Take ‘Major Step’ Over Demolition Of Nigerian Embassy Building, Hints Ghana On Facing Consequences
The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs revealed that Ghana should be ready to face the consequences for demolishing the Nigerian Embassy staff quarters in Accra.
Brandnewsday reports that the Foreign Affairs Chairman, Yusuf Buba, in a statement issued on Monday, stated that the demolished Nigerian Embassy building was external aggression that meddled the International Rights of Nigeria.
Ghana’s authority claimed that some unknown persons allegedly carried out the demolition of the staff quarters.
According to Buba, the demolition is a gross violation of all conventions and treaties on diplomatic relations and friendship between both countries.
Speaking on the demolition, he quoted a witness who narrated how a heavy-duty bulldozer arrived at the diplomatic premises at late hours of the night and broke through the gate.
Nigerian Embassy in Ghana:
The bulldozer demolished four units of the nearly-completed four-bedroom block of flats.
The Committee Chairman narrated that several frantic efforts were made by members of the Nigeria Mission to report what was ongoing to both the Ghana Police Service and their Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Buba lamented that “no reprieve, we were told, came the way of the Nigerian diplomats. We further learnt that, even when the Police finally arrived at the scene, they could not do anything”.
He recalled that Nigeria possessed all necessary legal titles and certifications, including site plan, payment receipts and allocation papers from the Ghanaian authorities.
Nigerian Embassy Demolition
Buba stated that Ghana “violated many articles in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1949 and, therefore, must be sanctioned”.
He said the House of Reps stand resolute to do everything within its powers to review, re-appraise and re-examine the Nigeria-Ghana relationship.
“We shall deploy all legislative means, including exploring and invoking all necessary rules, regulations and instruments that guide our common membership in other parliaments, to compel Ghana to answer for this act of gross violation”, he vowed.