At least 55 Ghanaians have lost their lives fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister revealed Friday, marking one of the highest African death tolls in the conflict.
Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said that since 2022, 272 Ghanaians have been drawn into the war, with two already held as prisoners of war, citing reports from Ukrainian authorities.
“Ukrainian authorities revealed that from their credible intelligence gathering (that) they have documented 1,780 Africans from 36 countries who have been lured by criminal trafficking networks to join the war against Ukraine,” Ablakwa said during his visit to the country.
Ghana joins a growing number of African nations raising alarms over citizens recruited for the conflict, often through deceptive offers of lucrative jobs or skill programs.
Last week, a Kenyan intelligence report indicated that around 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia after being misled with false promises of employment. Many are now hospitalized or missing, the Kenyan government reported.
Similarly, Ukraine’s intelligence agency confirmed that two Nigerians died last year while fighting for Russia, according to the AP. Meanwhile, a group of 11 South Africans allegedly recruited for Russia returned to Durban airport on Wednesday.
READ ALSO: Kenya arrests suspected middleman in Russia-Ukraine war recruitment ring
In South Africa, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, is under police investigation for reportedly recruiting more than a dozen South African men to join the Russian side.
“As a responsible government, we cannot turn a blind eye to these heartbreaking statistics,” Ablakwa said. “This is not our war and we cannot allow our youth to become human shields for others.”
The minister added that Ghana plans to strengthen public awareness campaigns and work to “track and dismantle all dark web illegal recruitment schemes” within the country. He also noted that the two Ghanaians held captive have warned young people against the lure of financial incentives to join the conflict.
READ ALSO: South Africa secures return of 11 men allegedly lured into Russia-Ukraine war
