Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to a neutral and independent foreign policy amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, while also announcing the successful evacuation of the first batch of Ghanaian nationals from Iran to Turkey.
The evacuation, according to Ablakwa, is part of a broader emergency strategy being implemented by the Mahama administration to ensure the safety of Ghanaians in conflict-prone zones.
Arrangements are currently underway to extend these efforts to citizens residing in Israel.
In a statement shared on Facebook on Friday, June 20, the Minister revealed that he had held separate meetings earlier this week with the ambassadors of both Iran and Israel.
These diplomatic engagements, he noted, were key to facilitating safe border access and securing the necessary coordination to carry out evacuations without delay.
“These engagements have also enriched our understanding of the ongoing conflict,” Ablakwa stated, emphasizing Ghana’s proactive approach to protecting its citizens while remaining diplomatically neutral.
The Minister also used the opportunity to reaffirm Ghana’s longstanding non-aligned foreign policy.
He strongly defended Ghana’s voting record at international forums, following criticism from the Israeli Ambassador.
Ablakwa underscored that Ghana’s foreign policy decisions are guided solely by national interest, constitutional principles, and a deep commitment to international law and multilateralism.
“I urged him to respect our sovereign right to make independent decisions based on our longstanding globally acclaimed foreign policy principles anchored on Ghana’s national interest,” he wrote, referencing the 1992 Constitution and Ghana’s pacifist approach to global peacebuilding.
This diplomatic exchange comes at a time when global powers are drawing battle lines, and smaller nations are being pressured to take sides. Ghana, however, is holding firm to its neutral stance, emphasizing peace, multilateral dialogue, and adherence to the rule-based international order.
Minister Ablakwa concluded by reiterating Ghana’s call for an immediate ceasefire in the region and urged all parties to pursue a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
