Israel Disappointed as Ghana Abstains from IAEA Vote on Iran’s Nuclear Breach

The State of Israel has expressed its disappointment in Ghana’s decision to abstain from a high-stakes vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where a resolution declared Iran in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

The vote, which took place on Thursday, June 12, saw 19 of the 35 IAEA Board of Governors—chaired by Ghana—supporting the resolution, with 11 abstentions and 3 opposing votes from Russia, China, and Burkina Faso.

While Ghana’s abstention was in line with the IAEA convention for board chairs, Israel had hoped for more.

● “We’re Disappointed” — Israeli Envoy Speaks Out

Speaking to journalists at his Accra residence, Israeli Ambassador Roey Gilad, who represents Israel in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, did not hide his dismay.

“Ghana abstained in the vote at the IAEA. We lobbied Ghana very strongly to support the resolution, yet Ghana abstained,” Gilad lamented.

Describing Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a clear threat to global peace, the ambassador said Ghana’s stance was a missed opportunity to stand with Israel, a country it has had diplomatic ties with since 1957.

“Iran is completely for the destruction of the Jewish sovereign State of Israel—a State Ghana has considered a good friend,” he added.

● Ghana’s Non-Alignment Under Scrutiny

Ambassador Gilad went further, urging Ghana to rethink its long-held non-aligned policy, especially when global security and existential threats are at stake.

“We respect Ghana’s sovereignty, but the non-alignment policy dating back to Nkrumah should be re-evaluated in light of current global dynamics,” he said.

He acknowledged Ghana’s adherence to IAEA protocol but argued that the gravity of the situation warranted an exception.

“As Chair, Ghana usually abstains. But we believed this issue was so important that it merited a different approach,” he noted.

● No Threat to Ghana-Israel Ties—But It Matters

Despite the diplomatic friction, the ambassador reassured that Ghana-Israel relations remain strong.

“This won’t cast a heavy shadow on our relations. Mature partnerships must allow room for disagreements,” he said, stressing the need for open and honest dialogue.

● Background on the Vote

The IAEA resolution, sponsored by the U.S., UK, France, and Germany, is the first of its kind in nearly two decades and raises the possibility of reporting Iran to the UN Security Council.

The resolution cited Iran’s “many failures to uphold its obligations” and non-cooperation with IAEA investigations into undeclared nuclear materials at several sites since 2019.

The diplomatic tension occurs as geopolitical strain intensifies in the Middle East, with the U.S. recently evacuating personnel and Donald Trump warning of mounting risks in the region.