V. L. K. Djokoto, cultural theorist and head of D. K. T. Djokoto & Co, has offered a framework for understanding the diplomatic dimensions of Ghana’s recent response to the detention of Ghanaian travellers at Ben Gurion International Airport, providing insight into the strategic considerations that typically inform such international exchanges.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on December 10th addressing the detention and deportation of seven Ghanaian nationals — including four members of a parliamentary delegation — at Tel Aviv’s airport. The release announced plans to summon Israeli Embassy officials and noted that Ghana was “considering appropriate reciprocal action.”
Speaking on the matter, Djokoto contextualized the Foreign Ministry’s approach within established diplomatic practice, outlining the multiple strategic pathways typically available in such situations.
The Architecture of Diplomatic Response
“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 noted that public statements in international relations serve multiple audiences simultaneously — the offending state, domestic and international observers, and future potential actors.
“There’s often a tension between what satisfies immediate public sentiment and what achieves sustainable diplomatic objectives,” Djokoto explained. “States must calibrate their responses accordingly.”
Frameworks for Escalation
Djokoto outlined the typical diplomatic escalation ladder that foreign ministries consider: private consultations, formal demarches, public statements, summoning of ambassadors, reciprocal measures, and coalition-building with similarly affected states.
“Each step carries different signalling costs and benefits,” he noted. “Private diplomacy preserves flexibility and face-saving opportunities for all parties. Public statements establish clear positions but can reduce manoeuvring room. The art lies in sequencing these tools effectively.”
He pointed to the reference in the press release to Ghana and Israel’s “six decades” of cordial relations, suggesting this framing could be read multiple ways.
“Such historical context can serve different diplomatic functions,” Djokoto said. “It can emphasize the anomalous nature of an incident, or it can establish baseline expectations for behaviour. The interpretation often depends on what follows — whether it’s leverage for demanding better treatment or a signal of relationship value.”
Coalition Dynamics and Leverage
On the question of whether Ghana’s response might have been more effective as part of a coordinated African position, Djokoto offered a measured perspective.
“When multiple states experience similar treatment, there’s often strategic value in coordinated responses,” he observed. “A unified position from several African nations carries different weight than individual protests. However, coordination requires time, alignment of interests, and diplomatic infrastructure that may not always be immediately available.”
He noted that the effectiveness of any diplomatic response ultimately depends on the responding state’s assessment of its own leverage and the offending state’s cost-benefit calculation.
“States respond to incentives and costs,” Djokoto explained. “The question becomes: what costs might be imposed, what incentives might be withheld, and how does one credibly signal willingness to follow through?”
The Role of Specificity in Diplomatic Language
Djokoto also addressed the language used in diplomatic statements, noting the balance between clarity and flexibility.
“Phrases like ‘considering appropriate reciprocal action’ serve particular functions,” he said. “They signal displeasure while preserving optionality. However, they also invite questions about specificity and credibility. In diplomatic practice, the most effective signals are often those that are clear about consequences without necessarily announcing them publicly.”
He suggested that the effectiveness of such language depends on back-channel communications that may not be visible in public statements.
“What we see in press releases represents one layer of diplomatic engagement,” Djokoto noted. “The complete picture typically includes private conversations, assurances sought and given, and commitments made outside public view.”
Alternative Framings
When asked about alternative approaches, Djokoto was careful to frame his observations as options rather than prescriptions.
“One approach might frame the incident as a procedural matter — seeking clarification on the legal basis for detaining travellers with diplomatic credentials,” he suggested. “This removes emotional content while still demanding accountability. Another approach might emphasize standards of treatment consistent with bilateral agreements and international norms, without necessarily invoking historical friendship.”
He emphasized that each approach carries trade-offs, and the optimal choice depends on a state’s specific objectives and assessment of its relationship dynamics.
The Transactional Nature of International Relations
Throughout the conversation, Djokoto returned to a central theme: international relations operates on transactional logic, even when moral language is employed.
“States pursue interests, not friendships,” he observed. “When Ghana says it values its relationship with Israel, or vice versa, what’s really being said is that both parties derive benefits from cooperation. The question in any dispute is whether those benefits are sufficient to modify behaviour.”
He suggested that effective diplomacy requires clarity about what benefits might be at risk and credible signalling about willingness to adjust cooperation if treatment standards aren’t met.
“This isn’t about emotion or moral positioning,” Djokoto said. “It’s about incentive structures. A state that believes cooperation will continue regardless of how it treats another state’s nationals has no reason to change its behaviour. Effective diplomacy changes that calculation.”
Context and Continuity
Djokoto, who leads a multi-family office established in 1950 that manages interests spanning residential real estate, rural banking across coastal Ghana, and cultural institutions, brings a long-term perspective to questions of relationship management.
“Whether in finance, culture, or international relations, sustainable relationships require clear expectations and consistent follow-through,” he noted. “Short-term reactions must be weighed against long-term relationship trajectories.”
As author of ‘Revolution’ and the play ‘Afro Gbede’, and someone whose work focuses on mobilizing Ghanaians through artistic experiences rooted in African music, literature and art, Djokoto frequently considers questions of how communities signal their values and expectations.
“The principles aren’t fundamentally different,” he suggested. “Whether managing a financial relationship, curating cultural experiences, or conducting diplomacy, clarity about objectives and consistency in execution matter enormously.”
Looking Ahead
Asked about the likely trajectory of Ghana-Israel relations following this incident, Djokoto emphasized the importance of what happens next rather than the initial statement.
“Initial responses matter less than sustained follow-through,” he said. “The question will be whether this incident produces changes in how Ghanaian travellers are treated at Ben Gurion Airport. That outcome will depend on whether Israel perceives costs to maintaining current practices or benefits to adjusting them.”
He suggested that observers should watch for whether Ghana pursues the matter through sustained diplomatic engagement, whether other African states raise similar concerns, and whether there are any adjustments to bilateral cooperation in various sectors.
“Diplomacy is ultimately about shaping behaviour over time,” Djokoto concluded. “Single statements rarely accomplish that. What matters is the sustained architecture of incentives and consequences that follows.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Israeli Embassy officials on the morning of December 11th as indicated in their statement. Details of that meeting have not been made public.
The three deported Ghanaian travellers have returned to Ghana, while the four parliamentary delegates eventually continued to Tel Aviv for the Annual International Cybersecurity Conference after more than five hours of detention.
V. L. K. Djokoto (b. 1995) is a Ghanaian cultural theorist, financier and gallerist. He leads D. K. T. Djokoto & Co — a top-tier multi-family office established in 1950
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