Bulgaria Embassy Demolition: Ghana Gov’t Begins Probe To Unravel True Owners Of Disputed Land
- Government has set up a special probe into the demolition of the Bulgarian embassy in Accra.
- Within seven days the probe is expected to unravel the legal owner of a disputed parcel of land that is being claimed by the Bulgarian embassy and a private developer.
- Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Jinapor, dismissed claims that government elements were behind the demolition.
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see YEN.com.gh News on your News Feed!
The Government of Ghana has set up a special probe to unravel the true owner of a disputed parcel of land on which the demolished Bulgarian embassy in Accra was standing.
The inquiry led by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is expected to establish legal ownership of the land currently being claimed by the Bulgarian Embassy and a private developer.
Source: Facebook
A Sole Inquirer, Justice Retired Kwasi Anto Ofori-Atta, has since been inaugurated today, Friday, 18 March 2022 by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor.
The issue was first made public by opposition lawmaker, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who said some government elements were behind the “brazen demolition” of the Bulgarian embassy in Accra.
Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with all major Ghana news
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu, published photos and documents to back his allegation that the embassy in Accra, located at Kakramadu Road, Plot No. 10, East Cantonments, was unlawfully razed to the ground.
According to the ranking member on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, the state-approved demolition recently was led by “armed rogue elements” with support from “deviant land guards and errant personnel allegedly from the Cantonments Police Station”.
However, on Friday, March 18, Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Jinapor, said his ministry swung into action immediately the reports about the demolition came to its attention.
He said a team led by his deputy, Benito Owusu-Bio, has halted all activities on the land until further notice.
Mr Jinapor said the government has no hand in the demolition exercise, stressing that President Nana Akufo-Addo would be the last person to authorise any act that affects diplomatic relations with another country or Ghana's obligations under international laws.
According to a report, the terms of reference of the Sole Inquirer looking into the matter are as follows:
1. Undertake a full and impartial inquiry into the alleged encroachment and/or demolishing of property on the land being used as the Bulgarian Embassy,
2. Make appropriate recommendations relating to the land being used as the Bulgarian Embassy
3. Inquire into the nature of interest in any land held or occupied by Diplomatic Missions in Ghana
4. Inquire into any matter relating to land in which Diplomatic Missions in Ghana have an interest whatsoever
5. Make recommendations to Government.
“Due to the urgency of the issue relating to the Bulgarian Embassy, the Minister gave the Sole Inquirer an ultimatum of seven days to present a Report on his Terms of Reference (1) and (2) above, and a period of one (1) month to present a full Report on Terms of Reference (3) to (5),” according to the report.
At the inauguration, the minster told the press that government was committed to living up to diplomatic obligations.
Free SHS Must Be Reviewed, It is Costing Ghana Too Much – Professor Adei Revisits Old Advice
Professor Stephen Adei has revisited a call for the Free SHS policy to be reviewed because it was costing the country too much to implement.
The renewed call by the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission said on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, comes at time when Ghana’s current economic challenges tops public discourse.
Prof Adei noted that although the free SHS is a good policy, it is time to block its budget-draining feature.
Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in
Source: YEN.com.gh
