The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel A. Jinapor, has expressed concern that Ghana’s handling of recent deportation exchanges with Israel risks undermining the country’s longstanding reputation for measured diplomacy.
Responding to public debate following the deportation of Ghanaian nationals from Tel Aviv and Ghana’s subsequent removal of three Israelis who arrived in Accra on December 10, Jinapor said the developments should prompt sober reflection on the country’s foreign policy approach.
In a statement to Citi News on Thursday, December 11, the Damongo MP clarified that the Minority fully supports all legitimate efforts to safeguard Ghanaians abroad. But he warned that Ghana’s diplomatic response must avoid actions or commentary that could escalate tensions unnecessarily.
“Defending the rights of our citizens is important,” he noted, “but the manner in which we conduct ourselves on the international stage is equally critical.”
Jinapor cautioned that public exchanges by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, may be eroding Ghana’s carefully cultivated image as a nation known for quiet, principled, and balanced diplomacy. He pointed to recent disagreements involving the Israeli Embassy, describing the episode as “disturbing and potentially embarrassing.”
With Ghana and Israel sharing more than six decades of diplomatic ties—including Ghana’s pioneering decision in 1956 to formalise relations—Jinapor argued that the current situation demands tact rather than public confrontation.
“The Minister’s posture risks heightening sensitivities at a time when careful diplomacy is needed,” he said, adding that Ghana’s foreign policy must reflect prudence, sound judgement, and engagement through established diplomatic channels.
The Minority, he added, will summon the Minister to Parliament to provide clarity on the government’s actions and its plan for managing the unfolding situation.
