We’re sorry – Shirley Ayorkor Botchway apologises to Nigeria

The Government of Ghana has apologised to the Nigeria High Commission to Ghana after a building belonging to it was demolished last week.

Speaking at the commission, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway said, “we are sorry this has happened” and assured that the ongoing investigation would be transparent. Police, National Security and the Lands Commission are looking into the matter, she said.

“We will ensure that whatever the outcome is, we will not hide it from the people of Ghana or the people of Nigeria. It will be laid bare,” she said with the commission’s Charge D’ Affairs, Esther Arewa, at her side.

Transparent Probe

Madam Ayorkor Botchway stressed that the incident was “not a government-sanctioned activity” and that Ghana had respect for rule of law.

“I can assure you that we will continue to provide you with protection as you are a diplomatic entity and therefore we will not allow anything untoward to happen,” she said.

“The relations between our two countries are too strong even if there there is any kind of dispute, for it to end in something like this. This shouldn’t happen between Ghana and Nigeria.”

Background

The premises of the residence of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana located at Osu Ringway in Accra was on Friday night invaded by some armed men.

They are said to have broken through the locked gate with a bulldozer and pulled down parts of a building under construction on the compound.