Accra, 4 January. – The Government of the Republic of Ghana is alarmed by the unilateral and unauthorised invasion of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by the United States of America and the subsequent abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the early hours of Saturday 3 January 2026.
Ghana expresses its strong reservations regarding the unilateral use of force and strongly deplores such acts, which violate the Charter of the United Nations and international law, as well as the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States.
The Government of Ghana is following the situation in Venezuela with great concern and notes that such violations of international law, attempts to occupy foreign territories and the apparent external control of oil resources have extremely adverse consequences for international stability and the world order.
Ghana also notes with deep concern the statements by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, that the United States will “govern” Venezuela “until we can carry out a safe, proper and judicious transition” and that major US oil companies will be asked to “step in”.
These statements are reminiscent of the colonial and imperialist era. They set a dangerous precedent for the world order. Such colonial ambitions should have no place in the post-Second World War era.
To allow this would place the international community in grave danger and undermine the sovereignty of all nations. Ghana therefore reaffirms its commitment to the principle of self-determination and remains firmly convinced that only the Venezuelan people should freely determine their political and democratic future.
Ghana calls for an immediate de-escalation and the release of President Maduro and his wife.
The Government of Ghana will uphold and defend its long-standing principled stance against invasion, occupation, colonialism, apartheid, disregard for sovereignty and all forms of violation of international law.