She said discussions are still underway towards the planned purchase of the said House.
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Ayorkor Botchway denies paying Oslo property
The Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway has said her Ministry is yet to purchase the new Ghana mission building in Oslo, Norway.
Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway
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This comes after the Minority accused the Foreign Affairs Ministry of inflating cost over the conversion of a 100-year-old 6-bedroom house in Oslo Norway, into Ghana's new mission in Norway.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, MP for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa alleged that the said property was bought by a certain woman for $2.9 million in 2014 and sold to an unknown buyer for $3.5 million in August 2017.
READ MORE: Sam George, Ayorkor Botchwey in near blows in Parliament
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The Foreign Affairs Minister addressing the Minority MPs in Parliament ostensibly explaining the Ministry's budgeted expenditure on the Chancery when she heard MP for Ningo Prampram Sam George making catcalls and taking a video record of her engagement with the MPs which later generated into a heated argument and clash between the two.
The two MPs were involved in a near-fight, with other lawmakers having to step in to save the situation.
The melee was reportedly sparked by a disagreement over the amount of money spent by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in acquiring a Chancery building in Oslo, Norway.
In a video that has gone viral, Mrs. Ayorkor Botchwey is captured in an altercation with Okudzeto Ablakwa and some Minority MPs.
The situation was prevented from escalating after the security held the Minister back, with Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Frank Annoh Dompreh, persuading her away from the scene.
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But Shirley Ayorkor Botchway in a statement said the Ministry is yet to purchase the new Ghana mission building in Oslo.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not signed any agreement to purchase the said properties; that is the Chancery and the Ambassador’s Residence.
"The Ministry expressed interest in two properties in Oslo and as required by the Public Procurement Act commenced due diligence on the properties with the assistance of a property Valuer and a reputable Lawyer with expertise in the acquisition of properties for Diplomatic Missions.
"As of now the Ministry has not entered into any binding agreement with the owners of the properties," the statement added.
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Below is the full statement from the ministry:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has taken notice of events emerging out of parliament where a section of the minority is alleging corrupt motives into plans by government to acquire a chancery in Oslo, Norway.
The Ministry takes very strong exception to the Minority’s vigorous attempt to impugn corruption into the said transaction by claiming that the price of the Chancery has been inflated by 8.5million dollars. For the avoidance of doubt here are the facts;
1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not signed any agreement to purchase the said properties; that is the Chancery and the Ambassador’s Residence.
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2. The Ministry expressed interest in two properties in Oslo and as required by the Public Procurement Act commenced due diligence on the properties with the assistance of a property Valuer and a reputable Lawyer with expertise in the acquisition of properties for Diplomatic Missions.
3. As of now the Ministry has not entered into any binding agreement with the owners of the properties.
4. The Ministry wishes to categorically state that no payment has been made towards the purchase of the properties therefore there has been no financial loss to the State.
5. The Ministry strongly rejects the unfounded claims by the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and a section of the Minority that seeks to give the erroneous impression that the Ministry was engaged in some fraudulent transaction with the owners of the two properties.
6. Such uninformed allegations and hasty judgement involving a Diplomatic Mission could damage not only the image of the country but jeopardize relations between our two countries.
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7. In response to the publication in a Norwegian newspaper, alleging the inflation of the price of the Chancery by the owner, the Hon. Minister directed on 12th December 2018 that all due diligence activities relating to the acquisition of the two properties be discontinued.
8. This directive was immediately communicated to the parties involved.
The Ministry wishes to assure the public that it would not engage in any transaction that lacks transparency or does not conform to proper procurement standards, ensuring value for money.
Accra, 17th December, 2018.
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