Sixty-two (62) Ghanaians have lost their lives while 15 others are still unaccounted for after travelling to Russia during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed.
“I welcome the pledge of the Russian Government to work with the Government of Ghana to stop the illegal enlistment of our youth,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa said Ghana will keep engaging Moscow and push for safeguards to shield Ghanaian nationals from being drawn into the war.
“The Government of Ghana will continue to lead advocacy on this matter and ensure that our youth are protected from harm’s way. This is not our war, and it should not be claiming Ghanaian lives,” he added.
The update comes amid growing alarm over reports that some Ghanaians were taken to Russia under false job offers only to be drafted into combat against Ukraine.
Mr Ablakwa made the disclosure during a press conference in Moscow following bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov.
In a subsequent post on X, Mr Ablakwa wrote, “Unfortunately, the number of Ghanaian deaths in Russia has gone up. 62 Ghanaians have now died, and 15 who travelled to Russia remain missing.”
The Minister said halting the supposed illegal enlistment of Ghanaians tricked into travelling to Russia and later forced into military duties was a major topic in his meeting with Mr Lavrov.
He noted that Ghana is especially worried about young people who accept promised jobs but later end up on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war.
“During our press conference in Moscow with Foreign Minister Lavrov after our bilateral engagement, I disclosed that an important matter to Ghana was how to stop the illegal recruitment of Ghanaian youth who are lured and end up fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war,” Mr Ablakwa said.
According to the Minister, the Russian government has pledged to work with Ghana to prevent the illegal enlistment of Ghanaian citizens into military operations.
