Ablakwa engages Israeli and Iranian envoys over Ghanaian evacuations and foreign policy concerns

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has held separate meetings with the ambassadors of Israel and Iran to discuss Ghana’s emergency evacuation plans and broader foreign policy matters.

Ablakwa met Roey Gilad of Israel on Tuesday (17 June), followed by a meeting with Ali Ghomshi of Iran on Wednesday (18 June 2025). The discussions centred on the government’s evacuation strategy for Ghanaians living in both countries, with calls for support from the respective governments to facilitate border access approvals.

The first batch of Ghanaians in Iran has already been evacuated successfully to Turkey, while arrangements are underway for the evacuation of nationals living in Israel.

The engagements also provided an opportunity to deepen understanding of the ongoing conflict in the region. In his meeting with the Israeli ambassador, Ablakwa registered Ghana’s strong displeasure at recent public pronouncements by the envoy questioning Ghana’s voting pattern at international organisations.

He urged the ambassador to respect Ghana’s sovereign right to make independent decisions based on longstanding foreign policy principles. These include non-alignment, pacifism, adherence to international law, multilateralism, and the rule-based international order, as espoused by the 1992 Constitution.

Ablakwa stated that these values will continue to guide Ghana’s foreign policy, especially at a time when the country is serving on the United Nations Human Rights Council and chairing the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

He concluded by re-echoing Ghana’s call for both Israel and Iran to commit to an immediate ceasefire and pursue peaceful diplomatic solutions.