The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Roey Gilad, has voiced disappointment over Ghana’s decision to abstain from a vote in Vienna on whether Iran is complying with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards.
Nineteen of the 35 countries on the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted for the motion, which was backed by the US, UK, France and Germany.
Diplomats said three countries – Russia, China and Burkina Faso – voted against the resolution at the IAEA board’s meeting in Vienna. Eleven others abstained and two did not vote.
Ambassador Gilad acknowledged Ghana’s sovereignty and non-aligned stance but urged a re-evaluation of its foreign policy direction in light of shifting global dynamics.
While recognizing the long-standing ties between Ghana and Israel, the ambassador noted that despite lobbying for Ghana’s support, the country abstained, likely influenced by the African Union, which he suggested is itself guided by the Arab League’s position.
“It’s important to be balanced on global issues,” he said, encouraging Ghana to adopt a more independent foreign policy, separate from AU or Non-Aligned Movement influences. Nevertheless, he respected Ghana’s sovereign choice.
He stressed the strength of Ghana-Israel relations, the ambassador pointed to Israel’s support in sectors like agriculture and the symbolic gestures of solidarity seen among Ghanaians, such as fishermen flying Israeli flags on their canoes.
Iran faces scrutiny over nuclear activities
Israel considers Iran’s non-compliance with IAEA standards a serious matter, describing Iran as an existential threat to Israel.
The IAEA passed a resolution last Thursday, its first in two decades, declaring Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations.
This comes after a report by the IAEA last week that criticized Iran for a “general lack of cooperation” and revealed the country had stockpiled enough uranium enriched to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade levels, to potentially produce nine nuclear bombs.
Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes and denies any intention to develop or acquire nuclear weapons.
It condemned the resolution as “political” and said it would open a new enrichment facility.
On Friday, Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles in retaliation for Israel’s earlier strikes on Tehran. Earlier in the day, Israel had carried out a series of intense attacks targeting key sites within Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.
