Latest news with #Mahama-led
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Ghana races to rescue citizens from Iran-Israel conflict as first group leaves for Turkey
A group of Ghanaians have been successfully evacuated from war-torn Iran to Turkey as the Mahama-led government steps up measures to safeguard its residents in the face of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. Ghana successfully evacuated citizens from war-torn Iran to Turkey amid rising tensions. Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed the evacuation as part of a safety measure. The initiative followed diplomatic discussions addressing the security crisis. On Friday, June 20, 2025, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the evacuation in a Facebook post. 'So far, the first batch of Ghanaians in Iran have been evacuated to Turkey successfully. Our fellow nationals living in Israel will be evacuated shortly,' Mr Ablakwa stated. He said the action was in response to earlier in the week's diplomatic meetings with Israeli Ambassador Roey Gilad and Iranian Ambassador Ali Ghomshi. Ablakwa disclosed that the evacuation was part of a broader initiative prompted by the escalating conflict between the two Middle Eastern nations. The minister recalled the discussion Ghana had with Israeli Ambassador H.E. Roey Gilad on Tuesday and Iranian Ambassador H.E. Ali Ghomshi on Wednesday which he noted was a part of President John Mahama's emergency evacuation strategy. The meetings, as reported by MyJoyOnline, were intended to secure border entry permissions and ensure the safe passage of Ghanaians as violence escalated in the region. Beyond the evacuation actions, these meetings allowed Ghana to gain a better grasp of the ongoing situation. There are currently 922 Ghanaians residing in Israel, including 65 students enrolled at six universities, according to Mr. Ablakwa. So far there has been no reports of Ghanaians being hurt or killed. Ghana embassy closure Just days before, on Monday, June 16, Ghana announced the urgent closure of its embassy in Tehran owing to the escalating crisis in the region. The decision was made to protect Ghanaian lives, especially because tensions between Iran and Israel show no indications of easing. The evacuation followed urgent appeals from the Minority in Parliament, which voiced great concern for the safety of Ghanaians in Iran and requested immediate government action. 'The Mahama administration has, in the interest of the protection of Ghanaian lives, decided to immediately evacuate Ghanaians living in Iran following an escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict,' Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs stated. 'To guarantee the safety of our embassy staff, Ghana's embassy in Tehran has been closed with immediate effect.' Earlier, Ghana had decided to abstain from a vote in Vienna on whether Iran is complying with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards, which Israel said was dissapointing. Start of the Iran-Israel conflict Israeli and Iranian military attacks have been fierce for the third day in a row. Targeting military, nuclear, and energy facilities in places including Tehran, Natanz, and Isfahan, Israel conducted a series of bombings deep into Iranian territory, purportedly killing key commanders and scientists and damaging missile installations. Iran responded by attacking Israel with more than 200 ballistic missiles and drones as part of what it named Operation True Promise III. Although many were stopped by Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow systems, dozens managed to get past defenses and hit Tel Aviv, Haifa, Bat Yam, and other locations, killing at least 10–15 Israeli civilians and injuring hundreds more.
Business Insider
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana plans to revive its national airline in partnership with the UAE
Ghana is actively exploring the re-establishment of a national airline with technical assistance from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following high-level diplomatic discussions in Abu Dhabi. Ghana is pursuing the revival of a national airline with assistance from the UAE, revealed during diplomatic discussions in Abu Dhabi. The initiative aligns with President Mahama's development priorities and includes employment opportunities in the UAE. The discussions have paved the way for increased investment opportunities in Ghana from UAE-based companies. The revelation was made by Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, 13 May 2025. The announcement came on the heels of a two-day official visit to the UAE, undertaken at the invitation of the Emirati government. According to Mr Ablakwa, the bilateral talks included an agreement on UAE support for Ghana's plans to launch a new national carrier. He emphasised that this initiative forms part of the current government's development priorities under President John Dramani Mahama. 'We also discussed two priority areas of President Mahama's government — labour export opportunities for Ghanaian youth in the UAE and technical assistance for establishing a new national airline,' Mr Ablakwa stated. Engagements with key UAE officials The Ghanaian delegation met with several senior officials, including His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State; and Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs. Ministers responsible for foreign trade and investment were also present during the talks. Mr Ablakwa confirmed that Ghana and the UAE had agreed to commence formal political consultations — a significant milestone marking the first such engagement between the two nations. Ghana has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to revive its national airline since the collapse of Ghana Airways in 2004 and the later demise of Ghana International Airlines in 2010. While numerous proposals have been tabled over the years — involving both public and private entities — none have materialised. However, the Mahama-led government has renewed its commitment to restoring a national carrier. On 8 May 2025, the government inaugurated a 10-member National Airline Task Force to oversee the revival process. Mandate of the National Airline task force The newly established task force has been tasked with developing a robust business model, coordinating with international technical and strategic partners, and securing regulatory approvals. Additionally, it will supervise operational areas such as human resource planning, aircraft procurement, and route development. The task force is chaired by Charles Asare, a former Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited. Other members include experienced aviation professionals, ex-officials of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and Joyce Bawa Mogtari, who serves as a presidential advisor. Mr Ablakwa also reported that the diplomatic engagements had opened the door to fresh investment opportunities from UAE-based companies. Key sectors identified for collaboration include renewable energy, artificial intelligence, education, healthcare, aviation, and defence. He noted that these opportunities are aligned with President Mahama's renewed vision for Ghana's economic transformation, stating that the president is 'sending a clear message to the global investment community that Ghana is open for business again.'
