The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has assured that no government-owned property in Benin will be sold during his tenure. He emphasized that efforts are underway to renovate and restore facilities belonging to Ghana’s diplomatic mission. During a recent working visit to Benin, the Minister inspected several properties acquired by the Ghanaian government in 1999. One of these properties, which has been unoccupied since 2019 due to a fire that damaged its electricity meter, remains abandoned.
Out of the six properties owned by Ghana in Benin, only one has been left unused. However, the Minister raised concerns about structural defects in some of the recently acquired facilities, which have compelled mission staff to rent private accommodations at high costs.
The Minister indicated that initiatives will be undertaken to renovate and, in some cases, reconstruct the properties due to concerns about structural integrity, emphasizing his commitment to protecting national assets. “No property will be sold under my watch,” he stated.
By: Fred Duhoe