Putin Agrees to Stop Ghanaians from Fighting for Russia in Ukraine War
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly agreed to stop Ghanaians from being recruited to fight alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war against Ukraine, following diplomatic concerns raised by Ghanaian President John Mahama.
The commitment was announced by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after a meeting between Mahama and Putin during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
According to the ministry, the proposed restriction will cover both irregular recruitment and Ghanaians who voluntarily enlist to fight for Russia.
Ghanaians Allegedly Lured with Job Offers
Ghana has repeatedly raised concerns over reports that some of its citizens are being deceived with promises of lucrative employment opportunities in Russia, only to end up fighting in the Ukraine war.
According to Africanews, several African governments have expressed concern over recruitment networks allegedly targeting young people with attractive job offers before sending them to the battlefield.
Dozens of Ghanaians Reportedly Killed
The situation has become a major concern for Ghanaian authorities.
A report by Graphic Online quoted Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as saying that at least 62 Ghanaians had reportedly been killed in the conflict, while another 15 remained missing.
The minister also disclosed that hundreds of Ghanaians were believed to have been recruited into the conflict since 2022.
Ghana Seeks Protection for Its Citizens
The latest development follows growing diplomatic efforts by Ghana to protect its citizens from being drawn into a foreign military conflict under questionable circumstances.
Other African countries, including Kenya and South Africa, have also raised concerns about the alleged recruitment of their nationals to fight for Russia.
Although Putin has reportedly given the assurance, details about how the restriction will be enforced and the fate of Ghanaians already involved in the conflict remain unclear.
Sources: Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Africanews and Graphic Online.
