Ghana’s government has said it would finance and rebuild apartments that were demolished at Nigeria’s High Commission residency.
Armed men supervised the demolishing of the apartments by bulldozers in the capital Accra last week.
It sparked diplomatic row between the two countries and even though Ghana apologized, Nigerian lawmakers have vowed to retaliate.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama told Nigeria’s House of Representatives that Ghana has apologized to Nigeria for “wrongful” demolition of the apartments.
But the Nigerian lawmakers have rejected the apology, insisting that the incident is a “direct attack on the Federal Republic of Nigeria which must not go unanswered.”
They are asking the Foreign Ministry to institute a direct retaliation on the Ghana Mission in Abuja to send a strong warning to Ghana.
Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila also proposed that Nigeria must reciprocate the attack on its sovereignty by Ghana.
Ghana takes steps to ease tension
According to Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey the Nigerian High Commission duly paid for that parcel of land under dispute.
The high commission was alleged to have encroached on the land but further checks revealed that, such claims were untrue.
Botchwey told a press briefing in Accra that Ghana would now take up the cost of rebuilding the demolished structures.
In a resolutions arrived at by Ghanaian officials Ghana’s “Lands Commission will proceed to issue a Land Title Certificate to the High Commission of Nigeria to regularize its ownership of the property in question.”
“The Government of Ghana will take immediate steps to engage the Osu Stool and all stakeholders on the impasse,” the resolution also stated.
The document also revealed that “The Government of Ghana will ensure that the demolished building is restored to its original state, as soon as possible.”
“In view of the above, the Government of Ghana will actively engage the Nigerian Government at the highest level to address the impasse and help calm tensions in both countries,” it concluded.
Arrests made
Meanwhile police in Ghana have arrested two persons in connection with the demolition of the structures in contention.
News Release – Update
The Criminal Investigation Department in the course of investigation on Monday 22nd June 2020, arrested two persons involved in the demolition of a building on the premises of the Nigerian High in Accra. Read more form the attached. pic.twitter.com/DZv9Y9FvYX
— Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) June 24, 2020
Source: Africafeeds.com
