Govt condemns ‘ill-treatment’ meted out to Ghanaian travellers in Israel, considers reciprocal action

The Government has condemned what it termed as ill-treatment meted out to some Ghanaians travelling to Israel at the entry port of Ben Gurion International Airport.

In a statement on December 10, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said government has observed with great concern that since Sunday, December 7, 2025, Ghanaian travellers have been “deliberately targeted and subjected to inhumane and traumatic treatment.”

The statement said on Sunday, December 7, seven Ghanaian travellers to Israel were detained at the Ben Gurion International Airport without any justifiable cause.

The persons detained included four members of a Parliamentary delegation taking part in the ongoing Annual International Cybersecurity Conference in Tel Aviv.

The Ministry noted that the detainees were only released after more than five hours of strenuous diplomatic intervention.

According to the Ministry, three out of the seven persons who were detained were deported on the next available flight and have since arrived in Ghana.

The statement added that Government of Ghana considers the actions of the Israeli authorities as “unfairly targeting Ghanaian travellers” and registers its strong reservations against such “humiliating treatment of our citizens at the Ben Gurion International Airport.”

The Ministry said for more than six decades Ghana and Israel have enjoyed cordial relations with considerable high volumes of unimpeded travel by citizens of both nations.

Thus, such conduct by Israeli authorities is “condemnable, extremely provocative, unacceptable and inconsistent” with the friendly historical relations between both countries.

The Ministry after conducting its enquiries, said government finds the justification provided by the Israeli Government that there was an alleged non-cooperation of Ghana’s Embassy in the deportation of its citizens in Israeli custody as “totally untenable” as the facts confirm that Ghana’s mission in Tel Aviv has been responsive and compliant with international law.

The Ministry of Foreign of Affairs will on Wednesday morning summon officials of the Israeli Embassy in Accra to convey government’s displeasure in the strongest possible terms.

Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana is considering appropriate reciprocal action.