Ghanaian authorities have evicted the Nigeria High
Commission from its diplomatic property in Accra as a serious diplomatic row
brews between the two countries, Whatsup News has gathered.
According to reports, the property located at No.10 Barnes Road, Accra, has
been reallocated to Amaco Microfinance since August 26, 2019 by Ghana’s
Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources with the consent of Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Regional Integration.
According to Olufemi Michael Abikoye, the Nigeria High Commissioner to Ghana in
a statement dated 31st December 2019, the High commission on December 27, 2019,
received a terse letter from the lawyers of Amaco, “giving instructions for the
High Commission to vacate its diplomatic property at No.10 Barnes Road, Accra.
“The letter further stressed that; failure to comply within stipulated time
will lead to depositing the Mission’s belongings at the nearest Accra police
station,” the Nigerian High Commissioner explained.
As at December 31st, 2019, the High Commission claims the building
has been forcefully broken into by Amaco,”…and is being ransacked with the
likelihood of being effectively occupied.”
Information from Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that the Nigerian
government has refused to renew the property’s ownership following expiration
thus, “the property reverted to the state in compliance with Article 258 of
Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.”
In the banter, the Nigerian High Commission has made a counter-claim that it
had sought “a mutual resolution of the matter, affirming that Nigerian
Government is examining the situation and that an appropriate directive was
being awaited.”
This tense undercurrent brewing between the two countries is set to escalate
particularly given historical precedents where both countries have taken
retaliatory steps to actions done by the other.
Also, Ghana and Nigeria already have strained relations, following the trade wars among Ghanaian and Nigerian traders in Ghana.
Ghanaians traders have threatened to attack Nigerian traders whom they believe are illegally engaged in retail trade in Ghana solely reserved for Ghanaians.
Nigeria threatened to retaliate until high-powered diplomatic talks between the two countries appear to have calmed nerves.