HEADLINE: Ghana Condemns Israel Over Detention and Deportation of Seven Travellers, Warns of Diplomatic Crisis
DATELINE: ACCRA, December 9, 2025
The Government of Ghana has issued a strong condemnation of the State of Israel following what it describes as the “inhumane and discriminatory” treatment of seven Ghanaian travellers detained at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport last weekend.
According to an official statement from Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the incident occurred on December 7, 2025. Following high-level diplomatic intervention by Accra, four of the detained travellers were eventually released. However, Israeli authorities proceeded to deport the three remaining Ghanaians.
The Ghanaian government has firmly rejected Israel’s explanation for the detentions. Israeli officials reportedly claimed the incident was a result of a failure by Ghana’s Embassy in Tel Aviv to cooperate in the security process.
Accra has categorically denied this assertion. Instead, it has accused Israeli security personnel of unjustly “profiling Ghanaian passport holders” at the border, implying a practice of racial or national discrimination.
“The treatment of our citizens was inconsistent with the spirit of existing agreements and the long-standing cordial relations between our two nations,” the Ghanaian statement read.
In a move signaling a significant escalation, the West African nation revealed it is actively “considering reciprocal measures” in response to the incident. The statement concluded with a stark warning that the event “threatens more than 60 years of cordial diplomatic relations” between Ghana and Israel.
Ghana, a historically influential voice in Africa and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, established formal relations with Israel in the 1950s. The threat of reciprocal action and the strong language used underscore the seriousness with which Accra is treating the airport incident.
As of this reporting, the Israeli government has not issued a public response to Ghana’s latest accusations and warnings. The situation highlights ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding border security protocols at Ben Gurion Airport, which have previously drawn criticism from other national groups and human rights observers.
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