Ghana delivered a blunt reciprocal warning to Israel during a tense diplomatic standoff over the deportation of three Ghanaian nationals, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, December 11, 2026, Mr Ablakwa disclosed that Ghana made it unequivocally clear to Israeli authorities that any further unjustified deportations would be met with immediate and equal retaliation.
“We told them plainly: if they deport 10 Ghanaians, we will deport 10; if 20, we will deport 20; if 50, we will deport 50. We are not going to accept this,” the Minister said.
Following Ghana’s swift expulsion of three Israeli nationals earlier this week, Mr Ablakwa confirmed that Israel has since tendered an official apology and appealed for de-escalation.
He described the original reason given by Israel for deporting the three Ghanaians as “absolutely untenable.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had on December 10, 2025 announced the retaliatory deportation of the Israeli nationals, stressing that the action was taken to protect the dignity and rights of Ghanaian citizens abroad and in line with the principle of reciprocity under international law.
Mr Ablakwa emphasised that Ghana’s firm stance has yielded results, with the apology from Israel marking a step toward resolving the row.
He reiterated that the government will continue to defend Ghanaian citizens wherever they find themselves, regardless of any status or background.