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Ghana government appalled by ill treatment meted out to Ghanaians by Israeli Authorities at Ben Gurion
The Government of the Republic of Ghana has expressed its strong protest and deplored the recent ill-treatment meted out to Ghanaian nationals travelling to Israel at the entry port of Ben Gurion International Airport.
According to the government in a statement, it has observed with great concern that since Sunday, December 7, 2025, Ghanaian travellers have been deliberately targeted and subjected to inhumane and traumatic treatment.
On the day in issue, seven (7) Ghanaian travellers to Israel were detained at the Ben Gurion International Airport without justifiable cause.
The detained included four (4) members of a Parliamentary delegation taking part in the ongoing Annual International Cybersecurity Conference in Tel Aviv.
They were only released after more than five hours of strenuous diplomatic intervention.
The remaining three (3) were deported on the next available flight and have since arrived in Ghana.
The Government of Ghana considers the actions of the Israeli authorities as unfairly targeting Ghanaian travellers and accordingly convenes its strong reservations a gainst the humiliating treatment of citizens at the Ben Gurion International Airport.
“It is worth highlighting that Ghana and Israel have enjoyed cordial relations for more than six decades with considerable high volumes of unimpeded travel by citizens of both nations,” the statement added.
According to the Ministry, this condemnable conduct by Israeli authorities is extremely provocative, unacceptable and inconsistent with our friendly historical relations.
‘Following our enquiries, we find the justification provided by the Israeli Government being an alleged non-cooperation of our Embassy in the deportation of Ghanaians in Israeli custody as totally untenable as the facts confirm that our mission in Tel Aviv has been responsive and compliant with international law,” the statement added.
The statement further added that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will this morning summon officials of the Israeli Embassy in Accra to convey our displeasure in the strongest possible terms.”
“Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana is considering appropriate reciprocal action,” it concluded.
A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Sammy Ayeh has picked up nomination forms to contest for the position of Deputy National Communications Officer position.
Announcing his intention, Dr. Ayeh said he is offering himself to help communicate the party’s vision clearly and connect its message with the aspirations of Ghanaians.
He expressed deep gratitude to the party’s National Communications Officer, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi, describing him as an able leader on whose shoulders he has risen.
“His exceptional leadership, mentorship and confidence in me have shaped my journey and strengthened my resolve to serve,” Dr. Ayeh stated.
He said if elected, he will seek to build on that foundation by strengthening research-driven communication, empowering grassroots communicators, and enhancing strategic media engagement.
Dr. Ayeh humbly appealed to party members and supporters for their support.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Data Protection Commission has called on the Minority Caucus in Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, JoyNews and other media houses to protect the personal information of 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Commission expressed concern over the public disclosure of the evacuees’ personal details, including their names, signatures and records of financial assistance received.
It warned that making such information public could expose the affected individuals to identity theft, fraud and other forms of harm, especially given the threats to their safety that some of them may have faced.
The Commission explained that the 1992 Constitution protects the dignity and privacy of every individual. It also cited the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), which sets out rules for the lawful collection, use and disclosure of personal information.
While acknowledging the importance of transparency, parliamentary oversight, the right to information and press freedom, the Commission stressed that these principles do not automatically justify the unrestricted publication of personal details.
It said the disclosure of the records by the Minority Caucus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, JoyNews and other media organisations must be assessed based on the law, the purpose of the disclosure and the privacy rights of the individuals involved.
The Commission further noted that although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament are registered data controllers in good standing, their registration does not exempt them from their legal responsibilities under the Data Protection Act.
It has therefore urged all the parties involved to take appropriate steps to protect the affected individuals, including immediately restricting access to or removing personal details from publicly available records where their continued disclosure is not legally justified.
The Commission announced plans to conduct a regulatory review to determine whether the disclosures had a lawful basis, what safeguards were applied and whether the privacy rights of the evacuees had been adequately protected.
It said it would engage the relevant parties as part of the review and take appropriate regulatory action if any breach of the law is established.
The Commission reiterated that protecting personal information and respecting human dignity must remain central to efforts to promote public accountability.
By: Jacob Aggrey
