Ghanaians in Israel to be given bomb shelter access amid conflict – Ablakwa

Ghana has assured the safety of its nationals amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, confirming that all Ghanaians in Israel will have access to bomb shelters while an evacuation plan remains on standby.

This development follows the Mahama administration’s directive for the immediate evacuation of Ghanaians living in Iran, a process that is currently underway.

According to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the evacuation from Iran has so far been successful, with no fatalities or injuries reported among Ghanaian citizens.

However, evacuating Ghanaians from Israel is not immediately possible due to border closures following the declaration of a state of emergency by Israeli authorities.

Mr. Ablakwa, in a Facebook post stated that government is actively engaging with Israeli authorities to secure clearance for evacuation once the situation permits.

In the meantime, Ghana’s embassy in Tel Aviv is working to ensure that all Ghanaians have access to bomb shelters as a safety measure.

The embassy has identified 922 Ghanaian nationals currently residing in Israel, including 65 students across six universities.

As a result, lines of communication have been established to provide updates and guidance.

Mr. Ablakwa also confirmed that embassy staff are complying with remote work directives issued by Israeli officials. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved an Emergency Evacuation Plan for Israel, which will be activated when conditions are deemed safe.

The situation in the region remains volatile following a surprise Israeli military strike on Friday, June 13 that reportedly wiped out senior Iranian commanders and damaged key nuclear facilities.

Iran has since vowed severe retaliation, warning it would “open the gates of hell” in response.

Over the weekend, Iranian missiles struck Tel Aviv and Haifa, causing widespread destruction in residential areas.

Ablakwa noted, “Channels for regular communication with the Ghanaian community in Israel have been established. With Israeli authorities declaring a state of emergency and closing all borders, an evacuation from Israel cannot be carried out now except with the express authorization of Israeli authorities — Ghana is pursuing those approval options. In a briefing by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, all diplomats and embassy officials from all over the world have been encouraged to work from home — our embassy is complying with that advice.”

“We are ensuring that all Ghanaians living in Israel have access to bomb shelters. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved an Emergency Evacuation Plan for Israel which will be promptly activated when conditions are met.”