Ghana won’t Pay Compensation for Bulgaria Embassy Demolition- Minister

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has refuted claims that Ghana will be forced to take up the cost of compensation for the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy that once sat along Kakramadu Road, Plot No. 10, East Cantonments in Accra.

His statement came to discredit allegations by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency to the effect that the country will have to settle the amount of GHC5,383,000.00 since the culprit is nowhere to be found.

In a comprehensive communique, the Minister noted that a Sole Inquirer report into the demolition found that the said land, a State land acquired in 1920 for public purposes, was granted to one Mr. Theophilus Kofi Leighton in 1977, for a term of 99 years commencing from 1st April 1974.

The property was also leased to the Bulgarian Embassy by a private contract.

“Following the death of Mr Leighton, however, the Executor of his Will, Mr Jojo Hagan, caused the property on the land to be demolished, pursuant to a court order, before assigning the land to one Dr Yaw Adu-Ampomah,” the probe found.

Among the recommendations of the Inquirer was that the government intervenes in the case pending in Court for an amicable solution while Jojo Hagan is sanctioned and made to compensate the Bulgarian Embassy.

The Ministry indicated that the diplomatic nature of the issue informed the government’s decision to intervene.

“It is, therefore, false for the Hon. Member of Parliament and/or any person to allege that the Government is required to pay this compensation to the Embassy. This claim can only be deliberate with the sole motive of misleading the public, and causing disaffection for Government, as the publicly established facts of this matter are well-known and easily discernible.”