Ghana on Wednesday deported three Israeli nationals in a reciprocal action after accusing authorities in Tel Aviv of subjecting Ghanaian travelers to “ill-treatment” and carrying out the “unjustified deportation” of three Ghanaian citizens, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.
Accra said it had been “compelled to retaliate” following the treatment of its nationals at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
“The Government of Ghana will continue to safeguard the dignity of its nationals and also that of other nationals,” the ministry said.
The Israeli Embassy’s acting head in Accra was summoned, as the ambassador was outside the country. Both sides agreed to work toward an “amicable” resolution to the dispute, the statement added.
Ghana stressed that it expects its citizens to be treated with dignity and respect “just as other governments expect Ghana to treat their nationals.”
Earlier in the day, the Foreign Ministry condemned what it called the “inhumane” and “traumatic” treatment of Ghanaian travelers at Ben Gurion Airport. The ministry said at least seven citizens — including four members of a parliamentary delegation attending an international cybersecurity conference in Tel Aviv — were detained without “justifiable cause” and released only after hours of diplomatic intervention. Three others were deported.
“This condemnable conduct by Israeli authorities is extremely provocative, unacceptable,” the ministry said.
It rejected Israeli claims that Ghana’s Embassy in Tel Aviv failed to cooperate during the incident, calling the allegation “totally untenable” and insisting the mission acted promptly and in full compliance with international law.
Ghana and Israel first established diplomatic ties after Ghana’s independence in 1957. Accra severed relations following the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, but the two countries restored full diplomatic relations in 1994, with regular cooperation and travel continuing since then.