The Government of Ghana has successfully evacuated the first group of Ghanaian nationals from Iran to Turkey, as rising tensions in the Middle East continue to pose significant threats to civilian safety. The urgent move is part of a broader emergency response strategy to protect Ghanaian citizens abroad.
In a Facebook update on Friday, June 20, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed the development. He noted that plans are also underway to evacuate Ghanaians living in Israel as soon as possible.
According to the Minister, the evacuation exercise followed high-level diplomatic meetings held earlier in the week with the Ambassadors of Israel and Iran. These engagements were focused on securing safe passage and border access approvals for Ghanaians in the affected areas.
“So far, the first batch of Ghanaians in Iran has been evacuated to Turkey successfully. Our fellow nationals living in Israel will be evacuated shortly,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.
The Minister explained that these efforts are part of President John Mahama’s emergency evacuation strategy, aimed at protecting Ghanaian lives while promoting peace and diplomacy in conflict zones. During his meetings, he also expressed Ghana’s concerns over recent public statements by the Israeli Ambassador regarding the country’s voting records at international forums.
“I urged him to respect our sovereign right to make independent decisions based on our longstanding globally acclaimed foreign policy principles,” Mr. Ablakwa emphasized.
He reiterated Ghana’s commitment to non-alignment, peace-building, multilateralism, and a rules-based international order—principles rooted in the 1992 Constitution and aligned with the UN Charter.
Ghana, currently a member of the UN Human Rights Council and chair of the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has reaffirmed its stance on diplomacy over conflict. The Minister called on both Israel and Iran to commit to an immediate ceasefire and pursue a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to their differences.
This evacuation marks a critical milestone in Ghana’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of its citizens during global crises.