Government has strongly condemned the ill-treatment of its nationals at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel.

In a statement, the government said it is “deeply concerned that since Sunday, December 7, Ghanaian travellers have been deliberately targeted and subjected to inhumane and traumatic treatment.”

On that day, seven Ghanaian travellers were detained without justifiable cause.

Four of them were members of a Parliamentary delegation attending the Annual International Cybersecurity Conference in Tel Aviv.

They were only released after more than five hours following strenuous diplomatic intervention. The remaining three travellers were deported on the next available flight and have returned to Ghana.

The government described the actions of the Israeli authorities as “unfairly targeting Ghanaian travellers” and said it conveys its strong reservations against the humiliating treatment of its citizens.

It emphasised that Ghana and Israel have maintained cordial relations for more than six decades, with extensive unimpeded travel by citizens of both countries.

Ghana dismissed Israel’s justification for the deportations, which alleged non-cooperation by the Ghanaian Embassy in Tel Aviv, as “totally untenable,” noting that the embassy has always acted in compliance with international law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will summon officials of the Israeli Embassy in Accra to convey Ghana’s displeasure “in the strongest possible terms.”

The government is also considering appropriate reciprocal action.