Bawumia, wife evacuated from Qatar as Middle East crisis deepens

Former Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and his wife, Samira Bawumia, have been safely evacuated from Qatar amid escalating military tensions across the Middle East.

Diplomatic sources confirmed to JoyNews that the evacuation was executed by Ghanaian diplomatic missions in the region following urgent directives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to sources, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, acting on behalf of the government, instructed embassies in the Middle East to take immediate steps to secure the safety of Dr. Bawumia, his wife, and their delegation.

In response, embassy officials collaborated with host country authorities to coordinate a swift and discreet departure for the former Vice President. For security reasons, specific operational details, including their destination, have not been disclosed. However, officials described the relocation as a “seamless and carefully coordinated” operation.

The evacuation comes as the Middle East grapples with its most severe security crisis in years. The conflict, which involves heightened hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, has expanded beyond traditional flashpoints, with missile and drone attacks reported across multiple nations.

The unrest is centered on the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, which began on February 28 following coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian military facilities. Iran’s retaliatory actions have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint for roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply—and led to airspace closures across the Gulf.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured the public that it is working continuously to protect all Ghanaian citizens in affected areas. Embassies throughout the region remain on high alert, providing consular services and emergency support.

The operation to secure Dr. Bawumia’s safety follows the government’s recent activation of emergency response measures, including the evacuation of diplomatic staff from high-risk areas such as Tehran.