The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has described as unfortunate and irresponsible, the statement made by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy.
Mr Jinapor revealed that he had no prior knowledge of the parties involved in the land dispute that led to the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy. As such, he cannot be implicated and accused of covering up for people he did not know.
“I think the statement by my friend Honourable Okudzeto Ablakwa, who is the Ranking Member for Foreign Affairs, is to say the least most unfortunate and irresponsible; totally irresponsible. And I think a gentleman of his standing in the Ghanaians body polity should not degenerate into such baseless accusations. I think it is most unfortunate and I don’t mince words on that at all. I think the politicking and the political motivation is leading him into the realm of total absurdity.”
Samuel Abu Jinapor
Commenting on the matter, Mr Jinapor explained that the “sole inquirer” who issued the report on the case is an experienced retired judge and he cannot suggest to him on what he should do in the matter regarding the demolition of the embassy. The Lands Minister expressed that prior to seeing the report, he had no knowledge of the people involved in the matter. Following this, he called on the North Tongu MP to support his accusations with facts rather than making unsubstantiated claims.
“… I’ve never heard Joojo Hagan , I’ve never heard Ampomah, the Charge d’ Affairs, the Consular General of the Bulgarain Embassy, the first time I heard his voice was when he called me yesterday to try and book an appointment… I think my friend Ablakwa should try and rise above this, he’s becoming ridiculous. Because every now and again, these flimsy wild allegations without any basis; What is the basis of the cover-up? That’s what he should say.”
Samuel Abu Jinapor
Minority’s statement on Bulgarian embassy demolition
On May 17, 2022, Mr Ablakwa described the Lands and Natural Resources Minister’s statement on the infamous Bulgarian Embassy demolition as one which has all the qualities of a “farcical cover-up and whitewash”, which confirms the minority’s suspicion on “government’s opaque conduct in this sordid affair of monumental international embarrassment”.
According to the North Tongu MP, the government’s statement on the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy was an attempt by the government to shield state officials behind the act, a development that has brought the country’s international reputation into ruins. Following this, he requested the Lands Ministry to publish the full report if it has nothing to hide.
Meanwhile, Mr Ablakwa has indicated that the Minority will launch a full-scale investigation into the matter.
It will be recalled that in March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration explained that government had no hand in the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy in Accra by a private developer. The Bulgarian Embassy, located at Kakramadu Road, Plot No. 10, East Cantonments in Accra was demolished by the private developer in 2017.
The Lands Commission has since ordered the developer to stop work on a redevelopment project on the site, however, work has been progressing.
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