Ghana deports 3 Israelis in retaliation to mistreatment of citizens at Ben Gurion International Airport

The government of Ghana has deported three Israeli nationals in response to the alleged mistreatment and unjustified deportation of three Ghanaian citizens by Israeli authorities.

The incident involved seven Ghanaians, including four members of a parliamentary delegation attending a cybersecurity conference in Tel Aviv, who were detained at Ben Gurion International Airport on December 7.

Three of them were later sent back to Accra, prompting Ghana to consider reciprocal action.

“The Government of Ghana is considering appropriate reciprocal action,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued on Wednesday, December 10.

The ministry described the incident as “troubling, especially given the long-standing cordial relationship between the two countries.”

It stressed that Israel’s justification of alleged non-cooperation by Ghana’s Embassy was “totally untenable as the facts confirm that our mission in Tel Aviv has been responsive and compliant with international law.”

Meanwhile, a follow-up statement announcing the reciprocal action on the same day said the Chargé d’Affaires ad Interim of the Israeli Embassy in Ghana was summoned to the Foreign Affairs Ministry for a meeting.

Both governments have committed to resolving the matter amicably.

The ministry said Ghana will continue to safeguard the dignity of its nationals and expects foreign governments to treat them with respect, just as Ghana treats their citizens.