At least 55 Ghanaians have been killed fighting in the war in Ukraine, with two others currently being held as prisoners of war, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.
The figures were provided by Ukrainian authorities during high-level talks 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 drawn into the conflict since 2022 through transnational criminal trafficking networks. Broader data shared during the discussions revealed that 1,780 Africans from 36 countries are believed to have been recruited under similar circumstances to fight against Ukraine.
Describing the development as devastating, the Minister said the numbers represent real human loss. “These are not mere statistics; they are Ghanaian lives cut short, and families shattered,” he stated in a social media post.
He emphasised that Ghana cannot afford to 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 said.
Mr Ablakwa announced plans for intensified public education campaigns and decisive action against recruitment networks operating within Ghana. He stressed that authorities are determined to track and dismantle illegal recruitment schemes, including those operating on the dark web.
During the visit, Ghanaian officials laid wreaths at Kyiv’s Wall of Remembrance in honour of victims of the war and held discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in combating human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
The two captured Ghanaians, who were granted consular access, reportedly warned fellow citizens against being lured by promises of financial reward, describing the dangers on the battlefield as severe.
Mr Ablakwa added that efforts are ongoing to protect vulnerable young people and prevent further loss of Ghanaian lives.
