By Alex Ababio
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, on behalf of government has appointed a Sole Inquirer to investigate the circumstances leading to some disturbances regarding the ownership of some parcel of land in dispute between the Bulgarian Embassy and a private businessman.
Speaking at the inauguration ,Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, noted that the Ministry was alerted by the media reports about the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy by a few private people.
According to him they acted swiftly in responding to the report, as a group drove by his Deputy Minister in charge of Lands and Forestry, Benito Owusu-Bio, was conveyed to the scene to ascertain the complexity of the situation.
He said, following up on orders , works of every of kind on the land were stopped until further notice .
The Minister repeatedly said that government has no hand in the said demolition exercise,hence their decision to find appreciate solution to the matter .
He stressed that President Akufo-Addo, who has some time past served in government as the Minister for Foreign Affairs would be the last individual to approve any demolition exercise that influences diplomatic relations or the country’s commitments under international law.
In this connection, Hon Abu Jinapor noted that there is the need to commission a full scale investigation concerning the circumstances prompting the supposed destruction and the development of the property.
He said the terms of reference for the Sole Inquirer are to; Attempt a full and fair-minded investigation into the supposed infringement and additionally demolition of property on the land being utilized as the Bulgarian Embassy,
Make proper proposals connecting with the land being utilized as the Bulgarian Embassy
Ask into the idea of interest in any land held or involved by Diplomatic Missions in Ghana
Ask into any matter connecting with land in which Diplomatic Missions in Ghana have an interest at all
Make suggestions to Government.
Because of the urgency of the issue connecting with the Bulgarian Embassy, the Minister provided the Sole Inquirer with a final proposal of seven days to introduce a report based on his Conditions of Reference (1) and (2) above, and a time of one month to introduce a full report based on Conditions of Reference (3) to (5).
Mr Jinapor announced that administration is focused on keeping up with the sincere relations it keeps with every single strategic mission and will in no way, shape or form permit the recent concern to damage the long standing relationship that exists among Ghana and Bulgaria.
Mr Jinapor further posited that with the skill and experience of the Sole Inquirer, he is totally sure that the Ministry would be furnished with the full facts and to follow up on them unequivocally and completely.
The Sole Inquirer, Kwasi Anto Ofori-Atta, a retired Justice of the High Court and a one time Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission in his reaction said he is appreciative to government and the Ministry for the confidence reposed in him.
Mr Ofori-Atta assured the Minister that he will do all in his ability as the Inquirer to completely investigate the matter according to his Terms of Reference.
“I wish to assure you and the entire of Ghana to give a valiant effort to settle this matter. Much obliged to you for the open door,” he noted .