Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that 62 Ghanaian citizens have died and 15 others remain missing after travelling to Russia amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Minister made the disclosure in Moscow following bilateral discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, where the alleged recruitment of Ghanaian nationals into Russia’s military operations was among the key issues discussed.
Mr Ablakwa later confirmed the figures in a post on X, saying the number of reported Ghanaian deaths in Russia had increased to 62, while 15 Ghanaians who travelled to the country remained unaccounted for.
Ghana raises concerns over recruitment of young people
According to Mr Ablakwa, Ghana is particularly concerned about reports that some of its citizens, especially young people, are being recruited to Russia under the promise of employment before allegedly being enlisted to participate in military operations.
He said Ghana raised the issue directly with the Russian government and called for measures to prevent what he described as the illegal recruitment and enlistment of Ghanaian citizens.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said the recruitment practices were putting Ghanaian lives at risk, particularly where individuals may not fully understand the circumstances in which they are being recruited or the nature of the work they are being offered.
Russia pledges cooperation with Ghana
Mr Ablakwa said Russian authorities had pledged to cooperate with Ghana to address the recruitment of its citizens into military operations.
He welcomed the commitment from the Russian government, stressing that Ghana would continue diplomatic engagements aimed at preventing further recruitment and protecting Ghanaian nationals.
The Minister said the government would also intensify its advocacy on the matter and work with relevant authorities to ensure that Ghanaian youth are not exposed to the dangers of the conflict.
Government warns against recruitment linked to war
The Ghanaian government has maintained that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not Ghana’s war and has expressed concern about Ghanaian citizens becoming casualties of the fighting.
Mr Ablakwa said Ghana would continue working through diplomatic channels to prevent its citizens from being drawn into the conflict.
The government’s latest engagement with Russian authorities is therefore expected to focus on strengthening safeguards against deceptive recruitment practices and ensuring that Ghanaian citizens travelling to Russia are adequately protected.
The reported deaths and disappearances also underscore the need for prospective travellers to exercise caution when offered jobs in Russia, particularly where the nature of the employment and the terms of recruitment are unclear.
