Retired Justice, Kwasi Anto Ofori Atta appointed Sole Inquirer over Bulgarian Embassy building situation
Justice Ofori Atta, also a former chairman of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission is to make among other things, appropriate recommendations relating to the land being used at the Bulgarian embassy.
A retired Justice of the High Court, Justice Kwasi Anto Ofori Atta, has been appointed by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapo, as the sole inquirer, to look into the circumstances leading to the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy building.
Announcing the appointment of Justice Kwasi Anto Ofori Atta, Mr. Jinapo described him as highly reputable due to his vast experience in the judication of land disputes.
Justice Ofori Atta was also a former chairman of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission.
His terms of reference are as follows:
1.Undertake a full and impartial inquiry into the alleged encroachment and/or demolishing of property on the land being used as the Bulgarian Embassy,
2. Make appropriate recommendations relating to the land being used as the Bulgarian Embassy
3. Inquire into the nature of interest in any land held or occupied by Diplomatic Missions in Ghana
4. Inquire into any matter relating to land in which Diplomatic Missions in Ghana have an interest whatsoever
5. Make recommendations to Government.
He is expected to report on the Bulgarian Embassy issue within seven (7) days and those relating to lands held by diplomatic missions within a month.
“Government has no hand in the alleged demolition exercise. It has become necessary to commission a full investigation into the circumstances leading to the alleged demolition and the development of the property by a private development to enable me as the minister responsible for lands to take the appropriate consequential actions,” Mr. Jinapo explained.
Background
The Bulgarian Embassy, located at Kakramadu Road, Plot No. 10, East Cantonments in Accra was demolished by a private developer in 2017.
Even though the Lands Commission has recently ordered the developer to stop work on a redevelopment project on the site, work has since been progressing.
Both the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Lands and Natural Resources have said government has no hand in the alleged demolition.
At a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Kwasi Ampratwum-Sarpong, said workers of the developer have been warned that they will be arrested if they resume operations.
The Bulgarian Ambassador to Ghana and Nigeria, Yanko Yordanov, has however described the demolition situation as a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
