Fact-check exposes the truth behind a viral demolition video, debunking the marital dispute claim in Ghana and revealing its true origin in Nigeria, where Prince Kpokpogiri’s mansion was demolished due to regulatory issues.
Viral video debunked: Mansion demolition not related to marital dispute in Ghana.
Fact-check reveals the demolished property belonged to Prince Kpokpogiri in Nigeria.
Demolition resulted from regulatory issues, including unapproved building and obstructing a major road.
The claim:ย
A viral video circulating on social media in Africa claims that a mansion in Accra, Ghana, was demolished due to a dispute between a husband and wife.
Source:
In a Facebook post from May 2022, a video (available here) captures the striking scene of a luxurious mansion being torn down by heavy machinery.
“A rift between husband and wife, the husband lives abroad, the wife lives in Accra Ghana, the land belongs to the woman, but the man built the house, both in court for divorce, the judge asked the wife to take possession of the land, and the husband to take possession of the building. Since he cannot move the building off the land, he brought in an excavator to pull the house down, the woman thought the husband would abandon the building since is not movable,” the post’s text reads.
The video was shared more than 3,000 times within a year, and in March 2023, it resurfaced and gained significant traction once again. Notably, numerous misogynists on social media have shared the video, further fueling its spread.
Facts
The video was investigated by MandyNews.com, which revealed that the demolished mansion was actually Prince Kpokpogiri’s property in Abuja, Nigeria, not in Accra, Ghana.
In May 2022, a news report detailed the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) demolition of a residential property belonging to Joseph Egbri, popularly known as Prince Kpokpogiri, in Guzape, Abuja.
FCTA and Federal Housing Authority (FHA) officials visited the building and confirmed that the land originally belonged to the FHA and that the building was unapproved.
The demolition was due to the lack of building approval, obstruction of a major road, and non-compliance with directives.
Verdict: False
We rate the claim in the viral video as FALSE. The demolished mansion in the video is not in Accra, Ghana, but rather in Abuja, Nigeria. The demolition was due to regulatory issues involving Prince Kpokpogiri’s property and not a dispute between a husband and wife.
Our fact-check sources:
The Whistler Nigeria, May 2022, “Kpokpogri defied 3 orders to stop construction of demolished building โ FCTA, FHA speak”
Njenje Media TV (YouTube), May 2022, “Prince Kpokpogiri’s Mansion Demolished in Abuja”