In connection with media reports informing that the building of the former Bulgarian embassy in the capital of Ghana – Accra was destroyed today, we specify that this information is not true. The building was illegally demolished in April 2017.
Since then, the Bulgarian side has taken a number of diplomatic actions to protect its interests as the owner of the property and has repeatedly received assurances that the issue will be resolved quickly. However, our embassy in Abuja, accredited in Ghana, has not been given permission to deploy a security company of its choice to protect the property. As a result, a Ghanaian investment firm claiming control of the terrain entered it illegally with heavy machinery.
After the issue was once again raised before the Ghanaian side, the Bulgarian diplomatic mission in Abuja was informed that on March 15, 2022, the competent authorities in Accra carried out the removal of armed guards and employees of the investment company illegally occupying the terrain. The Minister of Land and Forestry of Ghana has taken the necessary action by issuing an order to stop illegal activities on Bulgarian property and confirmed the decision of the Supreme Court that the property is Bulgarian until the expiration of the right of use in 2033.
The Bulgarian side continues the dialogue with the Ghanaian institutions to effectively complete the restoration of the possibility for Bulgaria to exercise its legal rights as an owner and in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
