Minority Demands Parliamentary Probe Into Demolition Of Bulgarian Embassy

The Minority in parliament is demanding a parliamentary probe into the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy building in Ghana.

According to the Minority, a developer is currently building on the said land, although documents available indicate that the Bulgarian Embassy has a legal lease that will expire in 2033.

The embassy, situated at Kakramadu Road, Plot No. 10, East Cantonments, was pulled down by a private developer despite protests by staff and the Honorary Consul, Nicolaas C.M. van Staalduinen, who is said to have been attacked in his effort to restrain the developer.

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, addressing journalists in Accra on Tuesday, March 15, expressed shock that such a “diplomatic blunder” has been committed under President Akufo-Addo.

“President Akufo-Addo is our key diplomat and he has a duty to keep our relationship with our foreign friends and neighbours [as] well. My understanding is that they have gone to demolish the Bulgarian Embassy in Ghana. This is unacceptable! And this can sever ties between Ghana and Bulgarian and its other foreign allies,” he observed.

The situation is said to infringe on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.

On Tuesday, North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made an indignant post on Facebook in which he lamented that officials of the Embassy were sacked by land guards to allow for private development on the disputed land.

Speaking to the media in Parliament, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, noted that the development contravenes the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

“The Bulgaria Embassy in Ghana, this is unacceptable. And this can sever ties between Ghana and Bulgaria and its other foreign allies. We just do not want to believe that all this is happening under the watch of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. Former Foreign Minister and former Attorney General. They cannot respect the Vienna Convention on diplomacy? We are disappointed,” Ablakwah fired.

According to the North Tongu MP, the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy in Accra and attendant assault of the country’s Honorary Consul is by people who have close ties to the Akufo-Addo government.

“I shall have him exposed in due course, save to add that those who consider themselves strategic allies of the Akufo-Addo presidency must reflect deeply on how their conduct will impact on the long term legacy of their most-favoured government,” the MP wrote in a post on his Facebook timeline on Tuesday.