Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced that sixty-two (62) Ghanaian citizens have been killed while another 15 remain missing after travelling to Russia in the Russia-Ukraine war.
In a post shared on X, following a press conference in Moscow after bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Ablakwa stated, “During our press conference in Moscow with Foreign Minister Lavrov after our bilateral engagement, I disclosed that an important matter to Ghana was how to stop the illegal recruitment of Ghanaian youth who are lured and end up fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Unfortunately, the number of Ghanaian deaths in Russia has gone up. 62 Ghanaians have now died and 15 who travelled to Russia remain missing.
I welcome the pledge of the Russian Government to work with the Government of Ghana to stop the illegal enlistment of our youth.
The Government of Ghana will continue to lead advocacy on this matter and ensure that our youth are protected from harm’s way. This is not our war, and it should not be claiming Ghanaian lives”.
It will be recalled that some weeks ago, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed that the government has launched investigations into alleged criminal recruitment networks luring Ghanaians into the Russia-Ukraine conflict through fraudulent overseas employment schemes.
According to Ablakwa, 272 Ghanaian nationals were reported to have been drafted into the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with 55 reported dead.
Ablakwa disclosed that his recent visit to Kyiv revealed to him that the recruitment of Ghanaians formed part of a broader pattern involving nationals of several African countries.
He disclosed, “It is estimated that about 1,780 African nationals from 36 countries have joined Russian forces.
The Mahama Administration is committed to tracking and dismantling all dark web illegal recruitment schemes operating within our jurisdiction. This is not our war, and we cannot allow our youth to become human shields for others”, Mr Ablakwa stated.
“Criminal networks continue to exploit vulnerable Ghanaians through false promises of employment, education and business opportunities abroad, exposing many to trafficking, forced labour, cyber-enabled criminal activities and other forms of exploitation”, he said.
Meanwhile, a Ghanaian man has shared a harrowing experience of how he was tricked into joining the Russian military to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to a report, the Ghanaian man revealed that he was promised a job when he was recruited by an agent in Dubai.
He explained, “In his search for better opportunities, he accepted the offer, completed the required steps, and eventually travelled to Moscow, the capital of Russia.”
The Ghanaian man detailed that, upon arriving at a military camp, he discovered that he was actually expected to join the military and participate in the ongoing war.
He further revealed that “he was not alone” in this ordeal, as he was among hundreds of Africans who had been similarly deceived.
See the post below:
During our press conference in Moscow with Foreign Minister Lavrov after our bilateral engagement, I disclosed that an important matter to Ghana was how to stop the illegal recruitment of Ghanaian youth who are lured and end up fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war.
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) August 18, 2026
Unfortunately,… pic.twitter.com/hs5dRX24y0
@ghnow_ Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin Addresses GoldBod Losses #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ ♬ original sound – GHnow
