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Ghana Races to Evacuate Citizens Trapped in Israel Amid Border Closures and Rising Tensions with Iran

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Hundreds of Ghanaians are currently stranded in Israel as escalating tensions with Iran force the Israeli government to declare a state of emergency and shut all borders, effectively halting any immediate evacuation efforts.

 

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed this urgent development in a Twitter update on Monday, June 16, highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts to protect its citizens caught in the volatile conflict.

 

In what he referred to as “UPDATE No. 2,” the Minister revealed that Ghana’s Embassy in Israel has identified 922 Ghanaians residing in the country. This number includes 65 students enrolled in six different Israeli universities, showing that the affected population cuts across various groups.

 

So far, there have been no reported injuries or deaths among Ghanaians in the region. Minister Ablakwa noted that while evacuation efforts from Iran are progressing successfully, the situation in Israel remains more complex.

 

“With Israeli authorities declaring a state of emergency and closing all borders, an evacuation from Israel cannot be carried out now except with the express authorization of Israeli authorities,” Ablakwa explained. He added that the government is actively working to obtain those necessary clearances to begin a safe evacuation.

 

An Emergency Evacuation Plan for Israel has already been approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is ready for activation once conditions permit.

 

Meanwhile, Ghanaian authorities have established direct communication lines with the Ghanaian community in Israel to keep them informed and supported. In compliance with safety directives from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Ghana’s embassy staff are also working remotely to minimize risk.

 

Ablakwa further emphasized that efforts are being made to ensure that all Ghanaians in Israel have access to bomb shelters and other essential protections.

 

The Mahama Administration has reiterated its unwavering commitment to the safety of Ghanaian nationals.

 

“President Mahama’s Administration is resolved to spare no effort in ensuring that Ghanaians caught up in this Israeli-Iranian conflict are offered full protection and removed from danger. We shall not fail our compatriots,” the Minister assured.

 

As diplomatic efforts continue, the government remains focused on securing safe passage for its citizens amid one of the region’s most volatile crises in recent years.

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JUST IN: Asamoah Gyan Still Owes Over GHC 1 million Judgment Debt – His Accounts Frozen

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Recent reports on various websites and social media claim that the Supreme Court has quashed a judgment debt of over GHC 1 million that former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan is obligated to pay for initiating a malicious prosecution against entertainment journalist Osarfo Anthony. However, this does not reflect the actual ruling of the apex court.

 

Background

On December 8, 2023, the defendants, Asamoah Gyan and his manager, Samuel Annim Addo, were ordered to pay GHC 1,061,000 in damages and costs. This judgment stems from a malicious prosecution suit filed by journalist Osarfo Anthony following his acquittal in an alleged sodomy and rape case involving the football star.

Justice Ernest Owusu Dapaa, a Court of Appeal judge with additional responsibilities at the High Court, ruled in favour of Osarfo, awarding him GHC 900,000 in damages, GHC 111,000 for lost income, and GHC 60,000 in legal costs, totalling over GHC 1,061,000.

 

Stay of Execution and Notice of Appeal.

Gyan, through his attorneys, filed a motion to stay execution of the judgment and a notice of appeal. On May 8, 2024, the High Court upheld its judgment and granted a stay of execution, contingent upon Gyan and his manager paying 50% of the judgment debt to the court’s Registrar within 30 days, excluding weekends and public holidays.

 

The court instructed that the amount must be invested in a government of Ghana 182-day Treasury Bill on a rollover basis until the appeal is resolved. This arrangement aims to ensure that Gyan can fulfil the payment if he loses the appeal, while also protecting Osarfo Anthony from difficulties in recovering the money should Gyan win the appeal.

 

Garnishee Nisi

After the 30-day deadline passed without compliance from Gyan and his manager, Osarfo Anthony filed an Ex parte Motion for a garnishee order, seeking to compel Gyan’s bankers to appear in court and show cause why they should not be ordered to pay the judgment creditor from the defendants’ account balances.

The High Court granted the garnishee nisi. However, just as Gyan’s bankers appeared in court to disclose their account balances, Gyan’s lawyers had already filed a certiorari application at the Supreme Court. This stalled the High Court’s proceedings pending the Supreme Court’s verdict.

 

Supreme Court Ruling.

Gyan’s legal team, led by Bobby Banson Esq., argued before the Supreme Court that the garnishee order should have been served On Notice to Gyan and his manager for seven days. The Supreme Court agreed with this argument, ruling that the garnishee process was improperly conducted. The apex court quashed the garnishee process (not the judgment debt).

The unanimous decision was delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Amadu Omoro Tanko, with Justices Yoni Kulendi, Senyo Dzamefe, Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, and Yaw Asare Darko concurring.

 

Asamoah Gyan and his manager remain fully indebted to Osarfo Anthony in the sum of GHC 1,061,000–same representing the damages and legal costs.

Update.

On the same day the Supreme Court issued its ruling, Osarfo Anthony, through his lawyers led by Yaw Dankwah, filed a Motion on Notice for an order of decree of garnishee nisi and has served the various banks where Gyan and his manager hold accounts. The bailiff is currently attempting to serve the process on Gyan and his manager personally.

 

Next Court Hearing

Come Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the bankers of Asamoah Gyan and his manager—CBG Bank, Ecobank Ghana, Zenith Bank, and GCB Bank—will appear in the High Court (Financial Court 1) to show cause why they should not be ordered to pay the judgment creditor from the credit balances in the accounts of the defendants/judgment debtors along with legal costs.

 

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German President Steinmeier to Visit Ghana — High-Level Talks with President Mahama Set for Monday

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President of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will arrive in Ghana on Sunday, November 2, 2025, for a three-day State Visit aimed at strengthening relations between Ghana and Germany.

According to a statement from the Office of the President, the visit will run until Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and will feature a series of high-level engagements between the two countries.

Official activities will begin on Monday, November 3, with a Guard of Honour inspection at the Forecourt of The Presidency in Accra. President Steinmeier will then hold a closed-door meeting with his host, President John Dramani Mahama, followed by bilateral talks between their respective delegations in the Credentials Room.

The discussions will focus on deepening Ghana–Germany cooperation in key sectors including trade, investment, technology, and development partnership.

A State Luncheon will be held in honour of President Steinmeier and his delegation at the Presidential Banquet Hall in the afternoon.

Later in the day, the German President will visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where he will lay a wreath at the tomb of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He will also interact with young Ghanaian IT professionals before attending a reception at the German Ambassador’s Residence in Accra.

On Tuesday, November 4, President Steinmeier will travel to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, where he will perform a sod-cutting ceremony at the Kumasi Technical Institute. He will also engage with the Vice Chancellor, staff, and alumni of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The German leader is also expected to visit the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research before paying a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace.

President Steinmeier will depart Ghana on Tuesday evening, bringing his three-day official visit to a close.

Source: Office of the President

Issued by: Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP)

Spokesperson to the President | Minister for Government Communications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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President Mahama Arrives in Cairo for Grand Egyptian Museum Opening

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Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Cairo ahead of the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), scheduled for Friday, November 1.

The historic event, taking place under the patronage of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, will be attended by world leaders, kings, and dignitaries from across the globe.

Overlooking the Giza Pyramids, the GEM is the world’s largest archaeological museum, showcasing over 5,000 years of Egyptian civilization. The $1 billion facility — two decades in the making — houses thousands of ancient artifacts, including 4,500 treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamun.

President al-Sisi has described the museum as a “symbol of Egypt’s leadership in global culture.” Initially planned for a July launch, the opening was postponed due to regional tensions and is now regarded as one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year.

The project reflects strong cooperation between Egypt and Japan, with Japan providing ¥84.2 billion (approximately $800 million) in soft loans through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Japanese experts also trained hundreds of Egyptian professionals in artifact conservation and museum management.

The inauguration comes amid a revival of Egypt’s tourism industry, which recorded revenues of $14.4 billion for 2023–2024 and welcomed over 15 million visitors in the first nine months of 2025.

For Ghana, President Mahama’s participation highlights Africa’s growing presence in global cultural diplomacy. The President was accompanied by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Executive Secretary to the President; Lt. Col. Abdul-Wahab Issah, Aide-de-Camp; Stanislav Dogbe, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations; and Ambassador Aikins Abrokwa, Director of State Protocol.

The Grand Egyptian Museum stands as a landmark of shared human heritage — uniting ancient history, modern innovation, and international collaboration.

 

 

 

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