International relations scholar and security commentator, Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has called on the government to swiftly pursue diplomatic and consular measures to safeguard Ghanaians caught up in rising tensions across the Middle East, especially in destinations experiencing widespread flight cancellations and disrupted air travel.
During an appearance on The Pulse on Monday, he underscored the need for Ghana to engage Gulf nations and other allied states to guarantee the protection of its citizens overseas.
“We are seeing flights cancelled all over. Government must liaise with those countries and coordinate with partners to safeguard the safety and security of our people,” he said.
His remarks follow mounting anxiety over aviation security within conflict-affected zones. Several airlines operating within and around the Gulf have halted services amid escalating threats, including possible missile attacks and unstable airspace conditions.
The analyst disclosed a personal concern, noting that his son, who works as a pilot for Qatar Airways, is presently stranded in Qatar due to the suspension of flights.
“No plane flying in those areas has 100 percent assurance that it can fly in or out safely,” he said, drawing attention to the risks confronting both flight crews and travelers.
He further appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement practical interventions to shield Ghanaian citizens, such as closely tracking the security situation in affected Gulf countries, offering prompt consular assistance to those stranded, preparing evacuation arrangements if required, and issuing up-to-date information to keep relatives informed.
In addition, he stressed that Ghana should leverage platforms like the United Nations to advocate for calm and stability in the troubled region.
Escalating tensions in the Middle East have led to the cancellation of flights from Accra to Dubai.
The situation involves reported bombings in Iraq and retaliatory attacks across the region, prompting airlines to suspend services.
Emirates flight EK 788 from Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra to Dubai International Airport (DXB) has been cancelled, and passengers are advised to contact their airlines for rebooking or refund options.
The flight from Accra to Dubai International Airport, scheduled for 7:15 pm GMT on Saturday, 28 February 2026, was canceled at the last minute through a notice.
In response to the ongoing tensions, the Embassy of Ghana Doha, State of Qatar has advised Ghanaians living in the area to exercise caution and remain vigilant during this period.
A press statement from the Embassy of Ghana Doha, State of Qatar read, “Due to missle attack and its impact in Doha, please take shelter until further notice, obtain information from official sources. We urge everyone to stay from military states, remain indoors, avoid crowded areas for any exposure to danger and keep essentials supplies like medication and food”.
This development is expected to significantly impact travelers from Ghana to Asia, Europe, and North America, as Dubai is a major transit hub connecting travelers through the United Arab Emirates.
The ongoing tensions have been linked to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in strikes by the Unites States (U.S.) and Israel.
Last year, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, warned the Israeli Embassy against maltreating Ghanaian nationals.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, December 11, Mr. Ablakwa noted that Ghana will respond with equal force if any of its citizens are deported.
According to him, “If they deport ten Ghanaians, we will deport ten. If they deport twenty, we will deport twenty. If they deport fifty, we will deport fifty. We are not going to accept this.”
His comments are in response to an incident in which several Ghanaian travellers, including four members of a parliamentary delegation en route to Tel Aviv for an international cybersecurity conference, were detained and deported by Israel Embassy officials.
Mr. Ablakwa narrated, “We were told that the Ghanaian Embassy was uncooperative, but the facts simply do not support that. Out of the six people on the list that Israel provided, one is not even Ghanaian. He is Gabonese. Our embassy had every right to verify the identity of the individuals involved.
“One of the people listed was seriously ill, and Israeli doctors themselves advised that she should not travel until she had recovered. How can you deport someone who is unwell and needs medical attention? Another individual had already been issued a travel certificate, so there was no reason to stop their entry into Israel.”
But in their actions, Israeli officials indicated that six Ghanaians who were supposedly due for deportation failed to provide the necessary details needed by Ghana’s Embassy in Tel Aviv to issue travel certificates.
The matter adds to broader concerns surrounding deportation practices. In September, eleven West African nationals filed two ex-parte applications at the Labour Division of the High Court in Accra, challenging their alleged detention in Ghana after being deported from the United States (U.S).
The eleven individuals include Nigerians Daniel Osas Aigbosa, Ahmed Animashaun, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, and Taiwo K. Lawson; Liberian national Kalu John; Togolese nationals Zito Yao Bruno and Agouda Richarla Oukpedzo Sikiratou; Gambian national Sidiben Dawda; and Malians Toure Dianke and Boubou Gassama.
According to the applicants, they were forcibly transported to Ghana without prior notice. They allege that they were secretly moved from the U.S. detention centers between September 5 and 6 in shackles.
They want the court to temporarily stop them from being deported back to their home countries until the court decides on their case. Their submission further revealed that Ghanaian authorities allegedly confined them in a military facility.
They cited Article 14(1) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which guarantees personal liberty, as well as Article 23, which protects the right to administrative justice. They are arguing that Ghana is violating international law by trying to send them back to countries where their lives or freedom could be at risk.
As a result, they have demanded that the Attorney-General, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service appear before the Human Rights Division of the High Court with valid reasons. The court has fixed Tuesday, September 23, to hear the case.
