The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has debunked claims that Nigeria’s High Commission in Ghana was evicted due to alleged on-going diplomatic row with Ghana.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement released by its spokesperson, Mr Ferdinand Nwonye on Friday 3rd January 2020, denied the news, saying there is no diplomatic row between Nigeria and Ghana, but rather the issue has to do with the issue of an expired lease of the said property.
The statement by the Ministry reads:
“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affair has been drawn to news circulating in the social media that its property on No. 10 Barnes Road Accra Ghana has been ‘violated’ by the host authorities and that there is a diplomatic row between Nigeria and the Republic of Ghana. The Ministry wishes to state categorically that the news report are untrue.
The Ministry wishes to clarify that the said property under reference was in use by the Federal Ministry of Finance, since 1957, on leasehold and was later bequeathed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The lease is said to have expired recently and the High Commission has been exploring the possibility of renewing the lease agreement with the host authorities. It should be noted that the building is not physically occupied but the Mission has some of its properties within the premises.
It should further be reiterated that the property is no housing either the Residence of the High Commission or the Chancery or Staff quarters. However, talks are still on-going between the Mission and appropriate host authorities. There is therefore no imminent diplomatic row with Ghana as being speculated by a section of the media. We wish to assure all and sundry that the Ministry is on top of the situation,” the statement reads.