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Fifty-five Ghanaians have died in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war after allegedly being lured into the conflict through criminal recruitment networks, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
In a Facebook post following his official visit to Kyiv, the Minister revealed that Ukrainian authorities, citing credible intelligence, have documented 1,780 Africans from 36 countries who were trafficked to fight against Ukraine.
He disclosed that 272 Ghanaians are believed to have been recruited into the conflict since 2022. Of that number, an estimated 55 have been killed, while two are currently being held as prisoners of war.
“As a responsible government, we cannot turn a blind eye to these heartbreaking statistics. These are not just numbers; they represent human lives, the hope of many Ghanaian families and our nation,” he stated.
Mr Ablakwa said the government would intensify public education campaigns to warn young people about the dangers of illegal recruitment schemes linked to the conflict.
He emphasised that the administration of President John Dramani Mahama is committed to tracking and dismantling illegal recruitment networks, including those operating on the dark web. “This is not our war and we cannot allow our youth to become human shields for others,” he stressed.
During the visit, the Minister met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, and joined him in laying flowers at the Wall of Remembrance. He described their discussions as substantive and focused on strengthening bilateral relations.
He further noted that the two captured Ghanaians have cautioned the youth against being enticed by promises of financial rewards to join the war, highlighting the grave risks involved.
The disclosure has reignited concerns over human trafficking networks targeting vulnerable African youth with false promises of employment opportunities abroad, only to deploy them to active war zones.
