Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, reacts as Nigerian Embassy staff quarters is demolished in Ghana

A section of the staff quarters of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana has been demolished in Ghana.

A bulldozer was brought in to pull down the building late Friday, June 19. A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a businessman had previously laid claim of ownership of the piece of land where the Nigerian High Commission’s staff quarters was erected. The man reportedly showed up last week with some papers to support his claim and began to knock down the fence surrounding the building.

According to the source, the man’s action was not opposed by authorities, as the Nigerian High Commission had petitioned the Ghanaian Government about it, but there was no response.

Days later, the businessman returned to the property with a bulldozer and began to pull down the building, however some Nigerian officials contacted the Ghanaian police who showed up when the building was almost being pulled down.

In a tweet posted this morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, strongly condemned the incident. The Minister demanded that urgent action be made by the Ghanaian government to find the perpetrators as well as provide protection for Nigerians and their property in Ghana.

”We strongly condemn two outrageous criminal attacks in Accra, #Ghana, on a residential building in our diplomatic premises by unknown persons in which a bulldozer was used to demolish the building.

We are engaging the Ghanaian Government and demand urgent action to find the perpetrators and provide adequate protection for Nigerians and their property in Ghana. #StayHomeSaveLives #COVID19 @NigeriaGov

@DigiCommsNG @GhanaMFA” Onyeama tweeted