Ghana's Foreign Minister: 272 Nationals Recruited Into Russia's War Since 2022, 55 Dead, Two Held as POWs

Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that approximately 272 Ghanaian nationals are believed to have been recruited into the Russia-Ukraine conflict since 2022. An estimated 55 have been reported dead. Two are currently held as prisoners of war, and diplomatic negotiations for their release are ongoing.

Ablakwa made the disclosure in a public address broadcast on UTV Ghana. He said the figures were gathered in part during a recent visit to Kyiv, where he received information from Ukrainian authorities about affected Ghanaian nationals.

Recruited Through False Promises

According to Ablakwa, victims were drawn in through deceptive employment offers - promises of work in construction, hospitality, logistics, and security services. Once abroad, they were compelled to undergo military training and deployed to combat zones.

"Many such victims were recruited through false promises of employment in construction, hospitality, logistics and security services before being compelled to undergo military training and deployment to combat zones," he said.

The pattern mirrors what authorities in Kenya, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, and Panama have documented: a civilian job offer functioning as the entry point into a pipeline that ends at the Russian front line.

Two POWs, Negotiations Ongoing

Two Ghanaian nationals are currently held as prisoners of war. Ablakwa said negotiations for their release are "proving very positive" and that the government is "really optimistic about the outcome."

He also said Ghana's diplomatic engagement with Russian authorities has indicated that the Russian government is willing to work with Ghana to "unravel these human trafficking schemes" - while simultaneously denying direct involvement in the recruitment operations. Ablakwa said he plans to continue these engagements during a visit to Moscow next month.

Ghana's Response

The government has initiated diplomatic engagements to establish the identities and welfare of affected nationals. Domestic security agencies are investigating recruitment networks targeting Ghanaian youth. Public education campaigns are also underway, urging prospective migrants to verify overseas employment opportunities before travelling and to remain vigilant against fraudulent offers.

The Broader Picture

Ablakwa cited a wider estimate: according to him, approximately 1,780 African nationals from 36 countries are believed to be fighting on the Russian side. Ghana's 272 represent one part of a recruitment pattern that has been documented across the continent - from Cameroon and Kenya to Zimbabwe and beyond.

See also: Top 5 African Countries by Casualties in Russia's War

The recruitment model is consistent. Economic vulnerability is exploited through attractive job offers. Recruits travel abroad, often through third countries. On arrival in Russia, civilian employment transitions into a military contract. Minimal training follows. Deployment to the front comes next.

Victims of Russia's predatory recruitment practices can take a safe route out with Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project - explore this option here.

Source: UTV Ghana