Bawumia and Samira Caught Up in Middle East Chaos, Evacuated From Qatar to Secure Location
- Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira, were stranded in the Middle East
- Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa reportedly directed the two be evacuated to a safe country
- The tensions followed joint US-Israel attacks on Iran, which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking conflict
Reports indicate that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira, were caught up in the tensions in the Middle East after the US and Israel sparked strikes in the area.
Joy News reported that the Bawumias have been securely relocated from Qatar to another country, amid Middle East tension after strikes hit the Iranian capital of Tehran.
Source: Facebook
The evacuation was reportedly coordinated by Ghanaian diplomatic missions in the region following direct instructions from the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Ghanaian embassies in the Middle East were directed to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of the former Vice‑President, his wife, and their entourage.
According to Joy News, embassy officials worked with host authorities to facilitate the swift and discreet travel arrangements.
The operational details have remained undisclosed for security reasons.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government are working to safeguard all Ghanaians residing in, or travelling through, affected parts of the Middle East.
Bawumia's camp speaks on departure from Qatar
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a senior aide to Bawumia, said the travel arrangements were routine diplomatic courtesies and not an emergency response.
According to Citinews, he also noted that the former vice president had been flown to Saudi Arabia.
“First of all, he has not been evacuated. We should put that on record. Evacuation suggests he was under some kind of distress, at risk, or under some kind of threat. That is complete misinformation."
Bawumia had travelled to perform Umrah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, transiting through the Qatari capital of Doha.
While Qatar temporarily closed its airspace due to the hostilities, Saudi Arabian airspace has remained open.
Why is there tension in the Middle East?
The attacks in the Middle East started on February 28, 2026.
The BBC reported that the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader for nearly four decades.
This attack sparked a conflict involving different countries in the Middle East.
Time reported that more than 1,000 civilians have been killed by the US-Israeli bombing.
Iran responded with an unprecedented wave of strikes across the Middle East, targeting several countries hosting US military bases, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Source: Facebook
Ghana registers citizens in Qatar for evacuation
Earlier, Ghana's Embassy in Doha had directed all Ghanaians living in Qatar to register with the mission for a possible evacuation.
In a statement on March 2, 2026, the Ghana mission in Doha said the directive had become necessary in view of the heightened unrest within the region.
According to the embassy, the registration would enable officials to communicate effectively with and assist in the event of any emergency.
The directive applied to all Ghanaians residing in Qatar, including students, workers, families, and visitors.
Ghana evacuates Embassy staff from Iran
YEN.com.gh also previously reported that Ghana had evacuated its embassy staff from Iran.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, confirmed that all diplomats were now safe.
He said the safety and welfare of Ghanaians was a top priority, amid conflict in the Middle East.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
