UK Government Chases Ghana High Commission For £5M In Unpaid Congestion Charges: "Stubborn Minority"

• The Ghana High Commission in the UK owes over £5 million for unpaid London congestion charges
• Other diplomatic missions also have similar debts and owe cumulatively over £143 million
• The congestion charge is a £15 daily fee for driving within an area of central London during certain periods

The UK government is pursuing Ghana for unpaid London congestion charges outstanding for the past 20 years.

According to Transport for London, the Ghana High Commission in the UK owes over £5 million.

This debt has been accumulated from 2003 to December 31, 2023. Other diplomatic missions have similar and owe cumulatively over £143 million.

The US Embassy owes the most, over £14.6 million, followed by the Embassy of Japan, with over £10.1 million.

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The congestion charge is a £15 daily fee for driving within an area of central London between 07:00 and 18:00 on weekdays and between noon and 18:00 on weekends and bank holidays.

Transport for London described the consulates like Ghana as a "stubborn minority" because most embassies make the payment.

“We will continue to pursue all unpaid congestion charge fees and related penalty charge notices and are pushing for the matter to be taken up at the International Court of Justice."

The Foreign Office said it expects diplomats to pay the charge, adding that they believed there were no legal grounds for diplomatic exemptions.

Multinational moves to seize Ghana properties in UK $140 million judgment debt

Oil Trading Firm Trafigura could seize some of Ghana's property in the UK to defray a $140 million judgment debt.

The Ghana International Bank building in the UK is part of properties at risk of being sold because of the judgment debt.

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In 2021, Trafigura sued the Ghana government for terminating two power deals and was awarded a judgment debt of approximately $140 million.

Angry Ghanaians in the UK accost high commissioner during protest

YEN.com.gh reported in 2023 that Angry Ghanaian protestors accosted Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK, Paapa Owusu Ankomah.

The #OccupyjulorbiHouse protestors were angry that Paapa Owusu Ankomah did not address them when they came to picket.

New Patriotic Party supporters disrupted the #OccupyjulorbiHouse protest at the Ghana High Commission in the UK.

Proofread by Berlinda Entsie, journalist and copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh