Ghana and Israel maintained mutual ties since Israel's creation but severed their relations in the wake of the Yom Kippur War. For the next four decades, Israel and Ghana maintained only basic ties, through Nigeria.
In September 2011, however, the two countries renewed their diplomatic relations. The Israeli Embassy in Accra, the capital city of Ghana, officially reopened. "It's hard to describe the sense of pride we felt, standing here with a local orchestra playing the anthem and seeing the flag flying in the background," the new Ambassador to Ghana Sharon Bar-Lee said.
The Israeli mission to Ghana presented its credentials to President John Evans Atta Mills, at his bastion. After President Mills accepted the ambassador's credentials, he told the mission that Ghana has a large Israeli business community. "Ghanaians love Israel. It's not unusual to see cars with Israeli flags on them," he added.
Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, embarked on a 3-day official diplomatic mission to Israel at the invitation of Prime Minister Netanyahu in mid-March 2016. Tetteh met with Netanyahu to discuss security cooperation, agricultural development, and and investment promotion between the two countries. Netanyahu is slated to visit many African countries, including Ghana, during Summer 2016.
In December 2025, Ghana deported three Israelis arriving in Accra in what authorities described as a reciprocal response to the alleged mistreatment of seven Ghanaian nationals at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, where several members of an official delegation were detained for hours, and three were ultimately sent back. Ghana condemned the incident as “humiliating treatment”. It summoned an Israeli diplomat, with Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stating the country would deport one Israeli for every Ghanaian denied entry by Israel. The dispute comes amid already tense relations driven by Ghana’s recent criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza and Qatar. However, Ghana says Israel linked the episode to alleged non-cooperation by Ghana’s embassy - an allegation Accra rejects. Both governments have since expressed willingness to resolve the matter amicably.
Sources: Ynet News;
“Ghana’s foreign minister pays a 3-day working visit to Israel,” News Ghana (March 15, 2016);
Thomas Naadi, “Ghana deports Israelis in retaliation for alleged mistreatment of Ghanaians,” BBC, (December 11, 2025).