Construction of Ghana’s Chancery In Ethiopia Didn’t Start in 2016 but 2020- Jinapor
The Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has contested claims that the construction of Ghana’s chancery in Ethiopia has a ten-year history, dating back to 2016.
In a statement, he said President Akufo-Addo cut sod for the project in Addis Ababa on February 10, 2020, on the sidelines of the AU Summit with the then President of Ethiopia, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, and other senior government officials from both Ethiopia and Ghana in attendance.
“At the ceremony, President Akufo-Addo lamented that Ghana did not have its own chancery building in Addis Ababa, considering the close relations between the two countries and our former leaders, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Emperor Haile Selassie.”
He therefore noted that suggestions that the Project has a ten-year history from 2016 are misleading and inaccurate.
In addition, he emphasised that there was no delay in the completion of the project as it was about 90% complete by October 2024.
“There was, however, a delay in the final payment of the contract sum due to the 2024 General Elections. It is, therefore, also inaccurate that the Project had delayed for two years. If there was any delay in continuing the Project, then it is attributable to this Government, the Project having been left at 90% complete in October 2024.”
It stated that the project commenced under the previous Government and was completed by the current Government.
“It is neither partisan nor improper to acknowledge continuity in governance. Indeed, it reflects maturity in democratic practice. It is, however, disingenuous to discount the work of the Akufo-Addo Government and characterise the Project as a Mahama Project, when the current administration only completed 10% of the Project,” he argued.
The Chancery was commissioned on February 16, 2026, by President John Dramani Mahama after the 39th African Union (AU) Summit.
Announcing the project, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said it has a ten-year history, dating back to the arrangement of funding under the 2016 SG-SSB facility.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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