Israel is urging Ghana to reconsider its neutral position after the country abstained from voting in support or against charges brought against Iran for violating its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

The voting took place on Thursday, June 12, 2025, during a closed-door meeting of the 35-member Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which is currently being chaired by Ghana.

The session was held at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

The vote, which was the first of its kind in nearly 20 years, saw the 35-member IAEA Board formally declare that Iran is in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

The resolution was supported by 19 countries, opposed by three — Russia, China, and Burkina Faso — while 11 nations, including Ghana, abstained.

The resolution, submitted by the United States, Britain, France and Germany, concluded that Iran had failed to provide the IAEA with full and timely cooperation since 2019 concerning undeclared nuclear material and activities.

It marks a significant escalation in the agency’s standoff with Tehran.

In what Israel describes as a friendly and respectful request, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad during a media engagement in Accra though acknowledging the legitimacy of Ghana’s abstinence due to its chairmanship position called on government to re-evaluate its longstanding non-aligned foreign policy position in critical global matters, particularly where international peace and security are concerned.

“The formal reason is that Ghana is the chair of the board of the IAEA, but we felt this is something that is so crucial to Israel, which has to do with the future of Israel — that the State which is a member of the United Nations, Iran, is completely for the destruction of the Jewish sovereign state in Israel

As much as we have full respect for the sovereign decision-making process in Ghana, including the Foreign Affairs [Ministry], we believe in the traditional policy of non-alignment that has existed here since 1957 under Nkrumah…I personally believe that maybe the policy of non-alignment should be re-evaluated."

Given the long-standing ties between Israel and Ghana, Mr. Gilad said his country had hoped Ghana would make an exception in this instance. However, to their disappointment, that was not the case — especially after earlier discussions with Ghana regarding the vote.

“A State which is considered by Ghana since 1957 as a good friend. We thought this was one place where Ghana could express its support for Israel and vote for non-compliance. It did not happen, and we’re disappointed.”

The Israeli Ambassador went on to admonish Ghana to re-evaluate its decades-old policy of non-alignment, describing such a shift as “healthy for the State” and necessary in navigating today’s global security challenges.“We do it in Israel day in and day out. We check ourselves, we check our policy at every stage. I humbly say, with full respect to the sovereign decision-making process in the Foreign Ministry here, that rethinking or re-evaluating non-alignment is something that will be healthy for the State,” he noted.

Nonetheless, Ambassador Gilad was quick to clarify that this development would not negatively affect the longstanding bilateral ties between Ghana and Israel, describing their relationship as “one of the best on the continent.”

“This is not going to cast a heavy shadow on our relations, but we cannot ignore it. If we discuss just among ourselves, it will bring no benefit. I think a mature relationship is the one between Israel and Ghana. We can discuss and iron out disagreements. If we don’t do that, then I will say that the relationship is not mature. Since I consider Ghana to be mature and stable, I think, as grown-up people, we can address it with the government. We did it in the past, and we will do it again,” he stated.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established in 1957, promotes the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technology globally.

It plays a key role in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons while supporting countries to harness nuclear science for development in areas such as energy, health, and agriculture.

Israel, which is not a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), remains particularly sensitive to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, citing existential threats and regional security risks.

As global geopolitical alignments continue to evolve, Ghana’s position as a non-aligned nation remains under scrutiny, particularly by allies who feel that neutrality may no longer serve mutual security interests in an increasingly polarised international arena.

Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Mr Roey Gilad and wife engage journalists at his residence in Accra.