Ghana is grappling with the deaths of at least 55 of its citizens who were drawn into the Russia-Ukraine war, with two others currently detained as prisoners of war, the country’s foreign affairs minister has disclosed.
On a visit to Kyiv, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed that about 272 Ghanaians have reportedly been recruited into the conflict since 2022, according to Ukrainian sources.
Ablakwa called the figures “depressing and frightening” and said they represent “human lives, the hope of many Ghanaian families and our nation.” He did not clarify which side the Ghanaians were fighting for, but Ukraine’s foreign minister has noted that more than 1,700 people from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia.
The confirmed death toll of 55 Ghanaians is the highest from any African nation involved in the conflict. While local reports in Cameroon suggest 94 of its citizens have died, official authorities have not verified those numbers. In addition, two South Africans and at least one Kenyan are reported to have died in the fighting.
Ablakwa emphasised that Ghana is committed to preventing its youth from being exploited in foreign conflicts. He said the government will intensify public awareness campaigns and target illegal online recruitment networks. “This is not our war and we cannot allow our youth to become human shields for others,” he added.
The situation has struck home for many families. One Ghanaian, Joshua Nkrumah, left his pregnant wife in Dubai in July 2024, believing he had secured a private security role in Russia.
He was captured by Ukrainian forces in September 2024 after surviving a drone strike, and his family has had no contact with him since.
His father, Albert Nkrumah, said, “As a father, I live every day with a silent weight on my chest. I wake up and the first thing I think about is my son—whether he has eaten, whether he is safe, whether he still has hope. I just want my son alive and back home. That is all a father asks.”
Ablakwa has also urged Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to release the two Ghanaian prisoners. He described them as “victims of manipulation, of disinformation, misinformation, of criminal trafficking networks,” and thanked Ukrainian authorities for ensuring they have been treated in line with international law.
“We have received reports that they are in good health,” he said. “They have not been tortured. They have not suffered any inhumane treatment since they were captured.”
The issue is not unique to Ghana. On Thursday, South Africa confirmed that two of its citizens have died in Ukraine, while 15 others were repatriated recently, with two still in Russia recovering from serious injuries.
Ukrainian officials continue to warn that anyone fighting for Russia will be treated as enemy combatants, with surrender as the only safe option. At the same time, African nations have expressed concern about their citizens being recruited by both sides in the conflict.
