The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly registered its displeasure over what it describes as the targeted and ill-treatment of Ghanaian travelers to Israel, particularly at the Ben Gurion International Airport.
According to the Ministry, engagements with the Israeli Mission suggest that the actions form part of a retaliatory response to what Israel claims is the Ghana Embassy’s non-cooperation in deporting Ghanaians in Israeli custody.
The Ministry has, however, rejected this claim as “untenable,” stressing that Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Israel has fully complied with international law and remained responsive in handling the deportation of its nationals.
The Ministry explained that the situation escalated on 7th December 2025, when seven Ghanaians arriving in Israel were detained without justifiable cause at Ben Gurion International Airport.
Among those detained was a parliamentary delegation traveling to Tel Aviv to participate in the annual international cybersecurity conference, which is currently underway. They were released only after five hours of extensive diplomatic engagements between the two missions, discussions the Ministry described as “strenuous.”
“On the day in issue, seven (7) Ghanaian travellers to Israel were detained at the Ben Gurion International Airport without justifiable cause. The detained included four (4) members of a Parliamentary delegation taking part in the ongoing Annual International Cybersecurity Conference in Tel Aviv. They were only released after more than five hours of strenuous diplomatic intervention.” it stated
The remaining three travelers were deported on the next available flight to Accra and have since returned to Ghana after their trip was rendered unsuccessful.
The Ministry firmly condemned the treatment of Ghanaian travelers by Israeli authorities, calling it unfair, humiliating, and indicative of deliberate targeting of Ghanaian nationals.
“The Government of Ghana considers the actions of the Israeli authorities as unfairly targeting Ghanaian travellers and accordingly conveys its strong reservations against the humiliating treatment of our citizens at the Ben Gurion International Airport.” it stated
It further described the actions as “unacceptable, provocative, and inconsistent with the longstanding diplomatic relations between the two countries.”
Despite reaffirming the six decades of cooperation and high-volume travel between Ghana and Israel, the government warned that it may consider reciprocal measures should such incidents persist.
Ghana and Israel have enjoyed cordial bilateral cooperation across security, diplomacy, and technology, which began in 1959 when Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir visited Ghana. Relations between the two countries gained renewed momentum after Israel reopened its Embassy in Ghana in 2011, marking the restoration of full diplomatic representation after 38 years.
Since then, both nations have expanded collaboration in several strategic areas, including defence. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has partnered with the Ghana Armed Forces to train 25 commanders from the elite 64 Regiment Special Unit, strengthening Ghana’s counterterrorism and special operations capacity.
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