Ghana deports three Israelis in response to ‘unjustified’ removal of Ghanaians — Gov’t commits to amicable settlement

Accra, December 10, 2025 - Ghana has deported three Israeli nationals in a reciprocal measure following what the government has described as the unfair and unwarranted deportation of three Ghanaian travellers by Israeli authorities.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision was taken to safeguard the dignity of Ghanaian citizens and to register Accra’s strong protest over what it called the ill-treatment of its nationals.

The action comes after three Ghanaians were denied entry into Israel under circumstances the government described as unacceptable. The Ministry said that in direct response, three Israelis who arrived in Ghana earlier today were expelled.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who shared the statement on his Facebook page, wrote:

“The Government of Ghana has been compelled to activate appropriate reciprocal action by deporting three Israelis who arrived in Ghana earlier today following the ill-treatment and unwarranted deportation of three Ghanaians. Both Governments have now agreed to an amicable resolution.”

The statement added that the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the Israeli Embassy in Accra was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the absence of Israel’s Ambassador. Both sides, it said, agreed to work toward an amicable resolution of the matter.

Government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights of Ghanaians abroad and insisted that visitors from friendly nations must also be treated with dignity while in Ghana.

“The Government of Ghana will continue to safeguard the dignity of its nationals and also that of other nationals. Ghana deeply values our relations with all friendly countries and expects our citizens to be treated with dignity and respect in much the same way as other governments expect Ghana to treat their nationals,” the statement noted.

The retaliatory deportation follows an incident on December 7, 2025, at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, where several Ghanaian travellers were detained or denied entry without clear explanation. Among them were four Members of Parliament attending an international cybersecurity conference in Tel Aviv. They were detained for hours before being released after diplomatic intervention.

Three other Ghanaian travellers were subsequently deported on the next available flight.

In an earlier communication, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the treatment meted out to the Ghanaians as “inhumane, traumatic, and deliberate”, accusing Israeli authorities of targeting Ghanaian nationals.

By deporting the three Israelis, the Government of Ghana signals a firm stance that unjust treatment of its citizens will be met with measured but decisive reciprocal action.

The development adds new pressure to Ghana–Israel relations, even as both governments commit to resolving the issue through diplomatic channels.

GHBUSS