Expert Analyzes Ben Gurion Airport Incident with Diplomatic Framework
Ghana’s diplomatic response to the recent detention and deportation of seven of its nationals, including four members of Parliament, at Ben Gurion International Airport is being carefully calibrated, according to cultural theorist V. L. K. Djokoto.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement released on December 10th, announced it would summon officials of the Israeli Embassy and indicated it was “considering appropriate reciprocal action” following the incident. Mr. Djokoto, head of D. K. T. Djokoto & Co, explained that such responses are typically guided by strategic considerations.
“In situations involving the treatment of nationals abroad, states generally weigh several factors,” Djokoto observed. “The question becomes: what outcome does one seek? Is it immediate redress, long-term behavioural change, preservation of broader relationship dynamics, or signalling to domestic constituencies?”
He highlighted that public statements in international relations are multi-faceted, intended for the offending state, domestic audiences, and potential future actors. “There’s often a tension between what satisfies immediate public sentiment and what achieves sustainable diplomatic objectives,” he stated, emphasizing the need for careful calibration.
Djokoto outlined a typical “escalation ladder” employed by foreign ministries, ranging from private consultations and formal demarches to public statements, summoning ambassadors, reciprocal measures, and coalition-building. “Each step carries different signalling costs and benefits,” he noted. “Private diplomacy preserves flexibility, while public statements establish clear positions.”
The Foreign Ministry’s reference to “six decades” of cordial relations with Israel, Djokoto suggested, could be interpreted in multiple ways – either as emphasizing the unusual nature of the incident or as highlighting the value of the relationship. “The interpretation often depends on what follows,” he explained.
Regarding a coordinated African response, Djokoto acknowledged its potential strength. “When multiple states experience similar treatment, a unified position carries more weight,” he said. “However, coordination requires time, aligned interests, and diplomatic infrastructure.”
Ultimately, he argued, a state’s leverage and the offending state’s cost-benefit analysis dictate the effectiveness of any diplomatic response. “States respond to incentives and costs,” Djokoto explained. “Effective diplomacy changes that calculation.”
He also pointed out the strategic use of language in diplomatic statements, noting that phrases like “considering appropriate reciprocal action” signal displeasure while maintaining flexibility. “They invite questions about specificity and credibility,” he added, “but are often accompanied by back-channel communications.”
Djokoto, whose diverse experience spans finance, cultural institutions, and the arts – he is the author of ‘Revolution’ and the play ‘Afro Gbede’ – stressed that international relations are fundamentally transactional. “States pursue interests, not friendships,” he observed. “Cooperation continues only if it benefits both parties.”
He concluded that sustained follow-through is more important than initial statements. “The question will be whether this incident produces changes in how Ghanaian travellers are treated at Ben Gurion Airport,” he said. “That outcome will depend on whether Israel perceives costs to maintaining current practices.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did summon Israeli Embassy officials on December 11th, though details of the meeting remain undisclosed. The three deported Ghanaian travellers have since returned home, while the four parliamentary delegates were eventually allowed to proceed to the Annual International Cybersecurity Conference in Tel Aviv after a five-hour delay.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
