Outrage is mounting in Ghana after seven Ghanaian travellers, including four Members of Parliament — were detained for hours by Israeli authorities upon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, prompting a sharp diplomatic protest from Accra.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned what it described as the “inhumane and traumatic” treatment of its citizens, calling the actions of Israeli airport officials unacceptable, provocative and inconsistent with the longstanding cordial relations between the two nations.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred on Sunday, December 7, when the Ghanaian delegation travelled to Israel to participate in the Annual International Cybersecurity Conference in Tel Aviv. Without justification, Israeli authorities allegedly singled out the group, detaining them for more than five hours. Their release came only after sustained diplomatic pressure from Ghana’s mission in Tel Aviv.
Three other Ghanaian travellers who arrived separately were reportedly deported on the next available flight and have since returned to Ghana.
The Government of Ghana described the incident as an unfair targeting of Ghanaian nationals, stressing that the treatment violated the spirit of cooperation that has guided Ghana–Israel relations for over six decades. The Ministry rejected claims from Israel that the detentions were due to a lack of cooperation by Ghana’s Embassy, calling the justification “totally untenable” and asserting that the mission in Tel Aviv has consistently adhered to international procedures.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to summon officials from the Israeli Embassy in Accra to formally register Ghana’s displeasure. The government also announced it is considering “appropriate reciprocal action” should similar incidents occur again.
Ghana and Israel have historically enjoyed strong ties, with significant volumes of travel between the two countries. Sunday’s incident, however, has triggered widespread anger among Ghanaians and renewed debate on how the country should respond to the perceived disrespect shown to its diplomatic representatives.
As the situation unfolds, Accra says it remains committed to protecting the dignity of its citizens abroad and ensuring such treatment is not repeated.
