Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Cletus Alengah, has indicated that the private developer, Jojo Hagan, who demolished the Bulgarian Embassy, located at Kakramadu Road, Plot No. 10, East Cantonments in Accra, without due process in 2017, can not be located to face the full rigor of the law.
After the demolition, Mr. Jojo Hagan went ahead and assigned the disputed plot of land (0.523 acre) for the unexpired residue of Mr. Leighton lease to Dr. Yaw Adu-Ampomah on 11th December, 2018. Dr. Yaw Adu-Ampomah (the Assignee) subsequently registered the Assignment at the Lands Commission and obtained planning and development permits; reference No. C795/20 for the proposed development.
On Tuesday, 26th April, 2022, the Sole Inquirer presented his report on the first two terms of reference, which deals with the Bulgarian Embassy issue.
It was found out that there are three Court cases involving ownership of the subject matter pending before the High Court, Accra.
Based on these findings, the Sole Inquirer recommended that Mr. Jojo Hagan should be sanctioned for not following due process in the eviction of the alleged trespassers and the demolition of the building and should be made to compensate the Bulgarian Embassy.
According to Cletus Alengah during an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile show on Saturday, August 17, the report levelled allegations of fraud against Jojo Hagan.
He therefore revealed that the Ministry “had written to the AG to take up the issue of fraud,” due to its inability to “prosecute the issue of fraud.”
Host, Samson Lardy Anyenini, then asked “and the whole government can’t find this guy for 2 years?”
In response, he said, “as to whether they have found him or not, I have no idea.”
It has been eight years since the unfortunate incident and two years since Jojo’s illegal act was confirmed.
Due to the lack of information on the whereabout of Jojo, the Bulgarian Embassy is yet to be compensated GHS 5,383,000 for the demolition of its building.
This revelation comes after the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources vehemently refuted allegations that the government is required to pay the Bulgarian Embassy GHS 5,383,000.00 for the demolition of the embassy’s building in 2017.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, claimed that the government was liable for the payment after the demolition was carried out due to a land dispute.
However, in a statement dated July 18, 2024, the Ministry denied these allegations, describing them as false and baseless.
The Ministry clarified that the land was not granted to the Bulgarian Embassy by the government, and the demolition was not conducted by government authorities.
Below is the Sole Inquirer’s report.