The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has held separate diplomatic meetings with the Ambassadors of Israel and Iran amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
In a statement, Mr. Ablakwa announced that he met with the Israeli Ambassador, H.E. Roey Gilad, on Tuesday, and the Iranian Ambassador, H.E. Ali Ghomshi, on Wednesday.
He explained that the engagements, held at his office, formed part of broader efforts by the government to ensure the safety of Ghanaian citizens living abroad.
During his meeting with the Israeli Ambassador, the Minister expressed Ghana’s dissatisfaction with recent public comments made by the envoy regarding Ghana’s voting record at international institutions.
“I urged him to respect our sovereign right to make independent decisions based on our longstanding, globally acclaimed foreign policy principles—anchored on Ghana’s national interest as espoused by the 1992 Constitution, our pacifist approach to peacebuilding, non-alignment, respect for the UN Charter, adherence to a rules-based international order, belief in multilateralism, and strict compliance with international law,” he stated.
Mr. Ablakwa confirmed that the first batch of Ghanaian nationals in Iran has been successfully evacuated to Turkey, with plans underway to evacuate citizens in Israel.
“The meetings afforded me the opportunity to convey the Mahama Administration’s emergency evacuation strategy for Ghanaians living in their countries, with the two ambassadors for onward communication to their governments to facilitate border access approvals,” he said.
The bilateral meetings also provided a platform to share perspectives on the evolving conflict in the region.
The Minister highlighted that the discussions had significantly deepened Ghana’s understanding of the complex dynamics involved.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s continued commitment to multilateralism and international law, especially in light of its current role on the United Nations Human Rights Council and its leadership of the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Mr. Ablakwa also reiterated Ghana’s call for an immediate ceasefire and urged both nations to pursue peaceful diplomatic dialogue to address their concerns.
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