Accra, Ghana – Ghana has initiated the evacuation of its citizens from Iran and is preparing to evacuate those in Israel, according to a statement released this week by a high-ranking official within the Mahama Administration. The move comes amidst ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Separate meetings were held with Israeli Ambassador H.E. Roey Gilad on Tuesday and Iranian Ambassador H.E. Ali Ghomshi on Wednesday. The primary purpose of these engagements was to communicate Ghana’s emergency evacuation strategy for its nationals to ensure facilitated border access approvals from both governments. The first group of Ghanaians in Iran has already been successfully evacuated to Turkey, with the evacuation of those in Israel expected to follow shortly.
Beyond the evacuation plans, the meetings also served to deepen Ghana’s understanding of the escalating conflict. A key point of discussion during the meeting with Ambassador Gilad was Ghana’s strong disapproval of his recent public comments questioning Ghana’s voting patterns at international organizations.
The Ghanaian official emphasized Ghana’s sovereign right to make independent decisions based on its longstanding foreign policy principles, which are rooted in the 1992 Constitution, a pacifist approach to peace-building, non-alignment, respect for the UN Charter, adherence to a rule-based international order, belief in multilateralism, and strict compliance with international law. These principles, it was stressed, will continue to guide Ghana’s foreign policy, particularly as the nation currently serves on the UN Human Rights Council and chairs the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Ghanaian official concluded by reiterating Ghana’s call for both Israel and Iran to implement a ceasefire and pursue peaceful diplomatic resolutions to their disputes.
Sankofaonline
