FOREIGN POLICY FAILURE: NDC GOVERNMENT’S RETALIATORY DEPORTATIONS ARE A NATIONAL DIPLOMATIC DISASTER!
The recent Ghana–Israel deportation row stands as a glaring example of foreign policy failure, lack of strategic engagement, and reckless decision-making by the current NDC government. In December 2025, after seven Ghanaian citizens, including four members of a parliamentary delegation, were detained and ultimately deported by Israeli authorities at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Accra’s response was swift but strategically flawed.
Instead of measured diplomatic engagement, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, chose to publicly escalate tensions by ordering the deportation of three Israeli nationals who had arrived in Ghana, stating that this was in direct retaliation. This tit-for-tat action, executed without prior consultation with key stakeholders, foreign policy experts, or structured diplomatic channels, exposed Ghana to serious international diplomatic risk.
There are several hard facts that must concern every patriotic Ghanaian:
- Decades-long Relations at Stake: Ghana and Israel have maintained diplomatic relations for more than three decades. That historical continuity is not a trivial statistic; it represents generations of cooperation, shared investments, and mutual diplomatic respect.
- Lack of Engagement Before Retaliation: The decision to deport Israeli citizens was taken without transparent negotiation or documented escalation protocols. This kind of unilateral retaliation is not typical of sober foreign policy, especially when citizens’ welfare and bilateral ties are at stake.
- Potential Consequences for Ghanaians Abroad: By reacting without consultation and escalation safeguards, the NDC government risks reprisal measures from Israel that could adversely affect Ghanaian travelers, business people, students, and professionals abroad. A poorly handled spat could lead to visa restrictions, tighter travel screenings, or even economic retaliation.
4. No Strategic Foreign Policy Framework: Ghana’s foreign policy must be guided by engagement, negotiation, and international protocols. A public, unplanned deportation stunt undermines the very foundation of diplomatic negotiation and can erode Ghana’s reputation on the world stage.
Even international reports covering the incident emphasize that this was a tit-for-tat exchange, not a strategic negotiation with clear objectives and outcomes.
This episode demonstrates an urgent need for competent, engaged, and professional foreign policy leadership, something the NPP has historically championed with structured engagement, preemptive diplomacy, and multilateral cooperation. What Ghana needs is firm but thoughtful diplomacy, not headline-seeking retaliation that could harm Ghanaians domestically and abroad.
By: Blessing Mantey
