Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says Israeli authorities, through their mission in Accra, have formally apologized and called for de-escalation after Ghana deported three Israeli nationals in a reciprocal diplomatic action.
The apology, has helped ease the strain on the decades-long Ghana–Israel relationship, which has delivered multisectoral cooperation since diplomatic ties were first established a year after Ghana’s 1957 independence.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. Ablakwa stressed that Ghana’s action on Tuesday was a direct response to what he described as the unwarranted, unjustified, and unlawful deportation of three Ghanaians who arrived at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport.
The action the government of Ghanawas compelled to take yesterday is directly in retaliation to the ill treatment and unjustified, unwarranted and what we consider unlawful deportation of our fellow compatriots. “ he said
According to the minister, the conduct of Israeli officials was even more concerning because the travelers had been issued visas by the Israeli Embassy in Accra, had not violated any immigration laws, and were not traveling illegally.
He also clarified widespread misinformation about the identities of the affected individuals. The Ghanaian delegation traveling for a cybersecurity training programme in Israel, convened by the Israeli government, were not Members of Parliament, but staff of the Parliamentary Service.
As Ghanaian citizens, the minister said, they deserved full protection and an unequivocal diplomatic response to address their humiliation.
The other group that was deported were on a pilgrimage to Israel as part of personal religious aspirations. All three, Mr. Ablakwa noted, were subjected to what he described as “dehumanizing treatment”, with two placed on an Ethiopian Airlines flight and the third on an Emirates flight.
He maintained that Ghana’s retaliatory decision was lawful and anchored in international norms, including the Vienna Convention, which allows a sovereign state to reciprocate when its nationals are mistreated by another state.
With Israel’s apology now conveyed it signals a reopening of diplomatic space and a pathway toward restoring normal cooperation between the two nations after the brief but intense standoff
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.
Related Posts
