The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has firmly defended Ghana’s right to make sovereign foreign policy decisions without external pressure, in a direct message to the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Roey Gilad.
In a post published on his official Facebook page today, Friday, June 20, the minister revealed that he held separate meetings this week with the Israeli and Iranian ambassadors as part of the government’s emergency efforts to evacuate Ghanaians from both conflict-hit countries.
“This week, I invited the ambassadors of Israel and Iran to my office for separate meetings,” Ablakwa wrote. “On Tuesday, I met with H.E. Roey Gilad of Israel and then held talks with H.E. Ali Ghomshi of Iran on Wednesday.”
According to the minister, these meetings provided the opportunity to outline the Mahama administration’s evacuation strategy and to secure support for border access from both countries.
“So far, the first batch of Ghanaians in Iran have been evacuated to Turkey successfully. Our fellow nationals living in Israel will be evacuated shortly,” he added.
Beyond evacuation logistics, the Foreign Minister disclosed a diplomatic clash with the Israeli ambassador, following Gilad’s public criticism of Ghana’s recent voting record at international organizations.
“I registered Ghana’s strong displeasure at his recent public pronouncements questioning Ghana’s voting pattern at international organizations,” Ablakwa noted. “I urged him to respect our sovereign right to make independent decisions.”
He emphasized that Ghana’s foreign policy is rooted in long-standing principles such as non-alignment, respect for the UN Charter, multilateralism, adherence to international law, and the pursuit of peace, all guided by the 1992 Constitution.
“These cherished principles will continue to guide Ghana’s foreign policy imperatives within all international organizations, particularly at this defining moment when Ghana is serving on the UN Human Rights Council and chairing the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” he stated.
The minister concluded by calling on both Israel and Iran to de-escalate tensions and choose diplomacy over violence.
“I re-echoed Ghana’s demand for both countries to ceasefire and opt for a peaceful diplomatic resolution of their concerns,” Ablakwa wrote.
The statement reinforces Ghana’s position as a principled, peace-seeking nation committed to international cooperation and the safety of its citizens abroad.
