The Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ghana, Roey Gilad, has expressed reservation on Ghana’s abstention at the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) board meeting on the resolution against Iran’s nuclear programme.
“We’ve asked, we’ve lobbied Ghana very strongly to support a resolution, yet Ghana abstained. The formal reason is that Ghana is the chair of the board of the IAEA,” he said.
“We felt that this is one place, something which is so crucial to Israel, that has to do with the future of Israel,” Mr Gilad told journalists in Accra last Thursday.
Speaking to a section of Editors at a breakfast meeting at his residence in Accra on Ghana-Israel bilateral relations, situation in Gaza, and the situation in the Middle East, the Ambassador said “Ghana abstained in a vote at the IAEA, International Atomic Energy Association, a vote that has to do basically, eventually 19 states voted that Iran is in non-compliance within its nuclear program.”
He said although Israel enjoyed some support in Ghana “We feel that this strong popular support is not being reflected in the right way, in the way Ghana holds an international forum. We got a good example this morning at the IAEA meeting.”
“Since 1957, as a good friend of Ghana, we thought that this is one place where Ghana can express its support for the security of Israel and vote for the non-compliance. It did not happen and we are disappointed.
“I’ll take it one step further and I will say on the record that as much as we have full respect for this sovereign decision-making process in Ghana, including in foreign affairs, we believe that the traditional policy of non-alliance that is here since 1957, since Nkrumah, that Ghana do not look east, do not look west, only look forward for what serves the interest of Ghana.”
“So obviously Ghana needs to serve the interest of Ghana, but I personally believe that maybe the policy of non-alliance should be rethinked, should be re-evaluated. We do it in Israel, day in and day out,” Mr Gilad added.
“We check ourselves, we check our policy. Every state should check its policy. Again, I humbly say with full respect to the sovereign decision-making process in the foreign affairs and the Foreign Minister here, that I personally think that rethinking or re-evaluating non-alliance policy is something which is healthy for the state,” the Ambassador added.
Touching on the situation in Gaza Mr Gilad said “As for the situation in Gaza, as you know, the situation is complicated. We do not deny that there is a huge tragedy, both for the people of Gaza and for the people of Israel.”
BY ALHAJI SALIFU ABDUL-RAHAMAN
