A judicial inquiry has been launched into the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy in Accra by a private developer, the Land Commission hints.

The judge is a retired justice of the High Court and former Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission, Kwasi Anto Ofori-Atta would the sole inquirer to look into matters leading to the demolition, which occurred somewhere in 2017.

The government hope the judicial inquiry would help the public to know the truth.

The demolition of the property has raised concerns over Ghana’s diplomatic relations with Bulgaria, which has existed for well over 60 years, as well as the act being described as an affront on the Vienna Convention

However, the Director of Public and Vested Lands Management Division of the Land Commission, Mable Ellen Yemidi says that the government of Ghana did not lease the land to the Bulgarian Embassy but working to resolve the issue.

The interview was conducted in Accra on Friday, 18 March 2022, after a closing ceremony of a five-day management retreat by the land Commission dubbed: “Achieving Institutional excellence in land services delivery through modern technology, human resource development and private participation.”

Madam Yemedy reiterated that it is true that the Bulgarian land has been leased but that lease was not directly from the government.

She, however, explained that the government rather leased the land to the LLC but restrained from commenting further on the issue because “a judge has been appointed and asked to investigate. So from next week – Monday to Friday – the judge will be with us at the office to look at it and come out with the report.”

Background

In 2017, the property housing the Bulgarian Embassy was demolished by a private company. Although the government claims it has no hands in the demolition, one of its appointees, Dr Yaw Adu Ampomah of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) had been accused.

 The government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has taken to prevent the private developer from further working on the said land.

But the Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed concern over the development, as it may hurts the Ghana-Bulgaria relationship.   

Mr Ablakwa has indicated that a similar incident is causing the country some GH₵5.2 million.

Reforms at the Land Commission

The Commission has made recommendations, which same would be forwarded to the government, to improve land management services in the country.

The Commission has also set a target to be one of the best public institutions providing leading services through digitalisation, decentralisation, staff capacity building and adoption of best practices.