Ablakwa engages Israeli, Iranian Ambassadors over emergency evacuation, peace efforts

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has held separate diplomatic engagements with the Ambassadors of Israel and Iran to discuss the Government's emergency evacuation strategy for Ghanaian citizens amid escalating hostilities between the two Middle Eastern nations.

Mr Ablakwa met with the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Roey Gilad, on Tuesday, followed by a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador, Mr Ali Ghomshi, on Wednesday.

The back-to-back meetings were aimed at securing cooperation from both governments to facilitate safe passage and border approvals for Ghanaians currently residing in their territories.

Speaking after the meetings, Ablakwa confirmed that the first batch of Ghanaians evacuated from Iran had successfully arrived in Turkey.

He added that preparations were far advanced for the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals living in Israel, which was expected to commence shortly.

“These engagements have not only helped us implement a swift and safe evacuation plan but also deepened our understanding of the ongoing conflict between the two countries,” Mr Ablakwa said in a statement.

The Government's proactive evacuation measures and diplomatic outreach come amid growing concerns for the safety of Ghanaians abroad, as well as the potential humanitarian impact of the Israel-Iran crisis.

The Minister also took the opportunity to firmly convey Ghana's disapproval of recent public statements made by the Israeli Ambassador, which appeared to question Ghana's voting patterns at international fora.

Mr Ablakwa described the comments as inappropriate and inconsistent with the diplomatic norms that governed bilateral relations.

“I reminded Ambassador Gilad that Ghana's foreign policy is guided by principles enshrined in the 1992 Constitution — principles such as non-alignment, multilateralism, respect for international law, and a pacifist approach to global peacebuilding,” he said.

He emphasized that Ghana, as a sovereign nation, reserved the right to make independent decisions that reflected its national interest and long-standing commitment to peace and justice.

“Ghana will continue to uphold these cherished values, particularly at a time when we are serving on the United Nations Human Rights Council and chairing the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” the Foreign Minister noted.

In both meetings, Mr Ablakwa re-echoed Ghana's urgent call for Israel and Iran to exercise restraint and commit to a peaceful diplomatic resolution of their conflict.

He stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, noting that further escalation posed grave risks to regional and global stability.

GNA