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Ghana orders immediate evacuation of citizens from Iran, closes embassy amid escalating Iran-Israel conflict
Ghana orders immediate evacuation of citizens from Iran, closes embassy amid escalating Iran-Israel conflict
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 3 mins read
The Government of Ghana has announced the urgent evacuation of its citizens from Iran and the immediate shutdown of its embassy in Tehran, as hostilities between Iran and Israel intensify.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed the decision in a Facebook post, stating that the move is aimed at ensuring the safety of all Ghanaian nationals in Iran—including diplomats, students, and professionals—who are being evacuated through land borders.
“In light of the deteriorating security situation, government has taken the decision to guarantee the safety of our embassy staff,” Mr. Ablakwa noted.
The decision comes in the wake of three consecutive days of military exchanges between Iran and Israel, beginning with an Israeli strike on Friday morning, followed by retaliatory missile attacks through Saturday night into early Sunday.
In addition to the Tehran embassy closure, Ghana is scaling down operations at its embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has urged Ghanaians living in Israel to remain in close contact with consular officials as the government continues to monitor developments in the region.
“Government assures that no effort would be spared in protecting Ghanaian lives and keeping all Ghanaians out of harm's way,” Mr. Ablakwa emphasized.
The conflict's global implications are already being felt in Ghana, particularly in the energy sector. As global oil prices surge in response to the Middle East tensions, President John Dramani Mahama has directed Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor to assess the potential economic fallout and prepare measures to shield the country from external shocks.
“I have instructed the Ministers of Finance and Energy to keep a close eye on the developments and model the possible impact on our petroleum prices. They must prepare appropriate measures to safeguard the gains we’ve made,” the president stated during his Thank-You Tour in the Savannah Region on Saturday, June 14.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s neutral stance on global security matters is drawing fresh scrutiny. Israel has expressed disappointment over Ghana’s decision to abstain from a crucial vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which formally declared Iran in violation of its nuclear non-proliferation commitments.
The resolution—backed by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany—passed with support from 19 member states. Russia, China, and Burkina Faso opposed it, while 11 countries, including Ghana, abstained. The vote was held behind closed doors on June 12 at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, where Ghana currently chairs the 35-member Board of Governors.
In a diplomatic appeal, Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, acknowledged Ghana’s neutrality due to its leadership role but encouraged a reevaluation of its traditional non-aligned foreign policy, particularly in matters concerning international peace and security.
“The formal reason is that Ghana is the chair of the board of the IAEA, but we felt this is something that is so crucial to Israel, which has to do with the future of Israel—that the state that is a member of the United Nations, Iran, is completely for the destruction of the Jewish sovereign state in Israel,” he said.
“As much as we have full respect for the sovereign decision-making process in Ghana, including the Foreign Affairs [Ministry], we believe in the traditional policy of non-alignment that has existed here since 1957 under Nkrumah…I personally believe that maybe the policy of non-alignment should be re-evaluated,” Ambassador Gilad added.
Ghana, for its part, continues to advocate for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict and has renewed its call for both Iran and Israel to end hostilities and embrace peaceful dialogue.
