The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Roey Gilad, has firmly defended the recent Israeli Film Festival in Accra, rejecting claims that the event was designed as political propaganda.

Speaking at a press briefing, the Israeli envoy described the festival as a sincere cultural exchange meant to strengthen ties between Israel and Ghana through art and storytelling. He explained that the embassy deliberately sought to combine Israeli and Ghanaian creativity, creating what he called a “bridge of culture.”

“We brought here five excellent Israeli films,” Ambassador Gilad said. “At UNIMAC, we suggested adding short Ghanaian films to the lineup. That’s the essence of this embassy — bringing Israeli and Ghanaian art together to build connections.”

The Israeli Film Festival, hosted at Silverbird Cinema at the Accra Mall, became a flashpoint for controversy as pro-Palestinian activists and some Ghanaian organizations called for its cancellation. Critics argued the screenings attempted to “whitewash” Israel’s global image amid the Gaza conflict.

Despite the backlash, Ambassador Gilad emphasized that public participation at the event told a different story.

“The Silverbird Theatre was full of people who came to see art and culture — both Israeli and Ghanaian,” he said.

He dismissed the objections as coming from a small, non-representative group trying to limit cultural freedom.

“A few individuals wanted to prevent Ghanaians from experiencing Israeli art and culture,” he stated.

When asked about allegations of propaganda by MyJoyOnline, Gilad was unequivocal.

“If some people think this is propaganda, that argument is hollow and not worth responding to,” he said.

The ambassador also highlighted the embassy’s ongoing commitment to cultural exchange beyond politics, citing both past and future initiatives.

Past collaborations included Israeli choreographers partnering with Ghanaian dancers and an Israeli jazz trio performing with local musicians.
Future plans, he revealed, include bringing an Israeli playwright to collaborate with Ghanaian writers next year.

“Culture is an important bridge in our work,” Gilad concluded. “We have done it before, we’re doing it now, and we’ll continue doing it — to connect Jerusalem and Accra through the arts.”