The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has met with the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad and expressed the government’s displeasure over recent public comments made by the envoy questioning Ghana’s voting record at the United Nations.

In a statement published on Facebook on Friday [June 20, 2025] Mr Ablakwa said the meeting was held earlier in the week at the Foreign Ministry in Accra.

He indicated it followed remarks by the Israeli ambassador criticising Ghana for abstaining from a vote on Iran’s nuclear activities at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board in Vienna.

Mr Gilad had publicly expressed disappointment over Ghana’s decision, saying Israel had lobbied strongly for support and viewed Iran’s nuclear programme as an existential threat.

He further suggested that Ghana’s abstention may have been influenced by positions taken by blocs such as the African Union and the Arab League.

“I registered Ghana’s strong displeasure at his recent public pronouncements questioning Ghana’s voting pattern at international organisations,” Mr Ablakwa stated.

“I urged him to respect our sovereign right to make independent decisions based on our longstanding globally acclaimed foreign policy principles.”

According to Mr Ablakwa, Ghana’s foreign policy is firmly grounded in the 1992 Constitution and is shaped by the country’s pacifist tradition, non-alignment, commitment to multilateral diplomacy, and strict adherence to international law.

“These principles will continue to guide Ghana’s foreign policy in all international organisations, especially at this crucial moment when Ghana is serving on the UN Human Rights Council and chairing the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” he added.

The engagement with the Israeli envoy was part of a series of diplomatic meetings held during the week.

Mr Ablakwa also met the Iranian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Ali Ghomshi, to discuss the safety of Ghanaian citizens living in both Iran and Israel, as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.

Mr Ablakwa said the Mahama administration has put in place an emergency evacuation plan to ensure the safety of Ghanaians in the affected regions.

He confirmed that the first group of evacuees from Iran had already been moved to Turkey, while preparations were underway to evacuate those in Israel.

“These engagements have also enriched our understanding of the ongoing conflict,” he noted.

The minister renewed Ghana’s call for both Iran and Israel to agree to a ceasefire and to seek a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to the conflict.