The Government of Ghana has deported three Israeli nationals in a retaliatory move following the “ill-treatment and unjustified deportation” of three Ghanaian travellers by Israeli authorities at Ben Gurion International Airport.
The decision was announced in two statements issued on Tuesday, December 10, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the Ministry, the action follows a string of incidents beginning on Sunday, December 7, when seven Ghanaian nationals travelling to Israel were detained upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport under what officials say were unjustifiable circumstances. Among the detained were four Members of Parliament attending the Annual International Cybersecurity Conference in Tel Aviv.
The detained travellers were held for more than five hours and released only after “strenuous diplomatic intervention”, the Ministry said. Three others were deported on the next available flight and have since returned to Ghana.
In its strongly worded statement, the government expressed “great concern” over what it described as the deliberate targeting of Ghanaian travellers and subjecting them to “inhumane and traumatic treatment”.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry noted that such actions betray the long-standing cordial relations between Ghana and Israel, spanning more than six decades.
Moreover, Ghana said it finds the explanation provided by Israeli authorities for the deportations “neither credible nor satisfactory,” especially given that officials from the Israeli Embassy in Accra had failed to demonstrate sufficient urgency in addressing the matter.
Earlier Tuesday morning, officials of the Israeli Embassy in Accra were summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register Ghana’s protest. The Chargé d’Affaires was called in to respond, as the Israeli Ambassador is currently out of the country.
Hours later, Ghana confirmed that it had deported three Israelis who had entered the country earlier in the day, describing the move as compelled by the “ill-treatment and unjustified deportation of three Ghanaian nationals by Israeli authorities.”
Despite the escalation, both governments have signalled willingness to resolve the diplomatic incident amicably. Ghana reaffirmed that it “deeply values relations with all friendly countries” and expects its citizens abroad to be treated with dignity—just as it treats the nationals of other states.
Meanwhile, the government says it is considering “appropriate reciprocal action” as consultations continue.
