Dr. Alex Vines, Research Director for African Programmes at Chatham House, has warned that Ghana and other African nations are exposed to serious economic and travel disruptions resulting from the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express with Evans Mensah, Dr. Vines emphasized that the growing conflict in the Middle East has far-reaching consequences that extend well beyond the region.
“It impacts supply chains. It impacts the price of oil. It impacts the price of gold. It disrupts travel,” he stated.
This warning follows recent Israeli military strikes on Iran, which targeted high-level officials and critical infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that the offensive will continue “as long as necessary.”
Dr. Vines stressed that although Ghana is geographically distant from the conflict, the ripple effects are immediate and significant — particularly on two key sectors of the Ghanaian economy: oil and gold.
“So Ghana’s struck. The African continent is not immune by any means to what’s going on in the Middle East,” he added.
Economic and Travel Disruptions Loom
The expert highlighted the risk of rising fuel prices and volatility in gold markets, both of which could have direct impacts on Ghana’s budget, inflation, and trade performance.
Additionally, Ghanaian travellers transiting through or near the Middle East face growing uncertainty, as airlines adjust routes or cancel flights due to safety concerns.
“If Ghanaians are going through the Middle East on travel, that will be disrupted. Flights that go near Iran or near Israel are being disrupted,” Dr. Vines noted.
Global Conflicts, Local Consequences
Dr. Vines drew parallels to the Russia-Ukraine war, which triggered global inflation and commodity price shocks — a stark reminder that African economies are tightly woven into global events.
“This overlaps with all the conflicts that we’ve also seen elsewhere. The Ukraine-Russia one is also one that has inflated the price of commodities. It’s impacted the price of fuel,” he said.
Ghana Must Stay Vigilant
In a globalized world, Dr. Vines urged African governments not to ignore geopolitical tensions, warning that inaction or complacency can have serious domestic consequences.
“We are interconnected… Ghana can’t ignore this. As I can’t in my own country here in the UK,” he concluded.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Multimedia Group Limited or its affiliates.
