At least 55 Ghanaians have died fighting in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed.
The figures were made known during high-level discussions in Kyiv between Ghanaian officials and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha. According to Mr Ablakwa, Ukrainian intelligence reports indicate that 272 Ghanaians have been lured into the conflict since 2022 through transnational criminal trafficking networks.
Broader data shared at the meeting suggested that about 1,780 Africans from 36 countries have been recruited under similar circumstances to fight against Ukraine.
Describing the situation as devastating, Mr Ablakwa said the casualties represent more than statistics. “These are not mere statistics; they are Ghanaian lives cut short, and families shattered,” he stated, stressing that Ghana cannot remain indifferent to the exploitation of its youth in foreign conflicts.
“This is not our war. We cannot allow our young people to be used as human shields in a conflict that does not concern Ghana,” he added.
The minister announced plans for intensified public education campaigns and a crackdown on illegal recruitment networks, including those operating on the dark web. He said authorities are determined to track and dismantle all such schemes within Ghana’s jurisdiction.
During the visit, Ghanaian officials laid flowers at Kyiv’s Wall of Remembrance in honour of victims of the war and held talks aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in combating human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
The update follows recent consular access granted to two Ghanaian prisoners of war, who reportedly cautioned fellow citizens against being enticed by promises of financial reward, describing battlefield conditions as grave.
Mr Ablakwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable youth and preventing further loss of Ghanaian lives in the conflict.