Ghana says 62 of its citizens have died and 15 remain missing after travelling to Russia, amid concerns over the illegal recruitment of young people into the Russia-Ukraine war…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Ghana has said 62 of its citizens have died after being recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, while 15 others who travelled to Russia remain missing, as Accra seeks Moscow’s help to stop the illegal enlistment of Ghanaian youth.
Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa raised the issue during a press conference in Moscow following bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Ablakwa said the recruitment of Ghanaian young people, who are allegedly lured to Russia and subsequently end up fighting in the war, was a major concern for the Ghanaian government.
“Unfortunately, the number of Ghanaian deaths in Russia has gone up. 62 Ghanaians have now died and 15 who travelled to Russia remain missing,” Ablakwa said.
He welcomed a pledge from the Russian government to work with Ghana to stop the illegal enlistment of Ghanaian citizens.
“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,” he said.
The issue was raised as part of a three-day official visit by Ablakwa to Russia at the invitation of Lavrov. The visit also focused on security cooperation, economic ties and expanding exchanges between the two countries.
Ghana also welcomed Russian support in tackling terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel region.
Ablakwa called for an Africa-led strategy to address terrorism and violent extremism across the region, with support from Russia. He expressed Ghana’s appreciation for Moscow’s cooperation in efforts to strengthen the country’s ability to confront security threats linked to instability in the Sahel.
The Ghanaian minister stressed, however, that any response to terrorism and violent extremism should be led by African countries, with international partners providing support.
During the visit, Ghana and Russia also signed a visa waiver agreement covering holders of diplomatic and service passports.
The agreement was signed on Monday, August 17, at the beginning of Ablakwa’s three-day official visit to Russia.
According to the Ghanaian government, the agreement is the first of its kind between Ghana and Russia since the two countries established formal diplomatic relations on January 14, 1958.
The agreement is expected to serve as an initial step towards negotiations on expanded travel privileges for other categories of travellers as Ghana and Russia seek to increase trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
During their bilateral discussions, Ablakwa and Lavrov also discussed opportunities for wider strategic cooperation between the two countries.
Areas identified for potential cooperation include education, energy, agriculture, security and defence, and minerals exploration.
Ablakwa also expressed Ghana’s appreciation for Russian cooperation in the country’s efforts to promote industrialisation and create jobs.
The talks come as Ghana seeks to strengthen its bilateral relationship with Russia while addressing concerns over the involvement of Ghanaian nationals in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Accra’s call for greater cooperation over recruitment reflects growing concern over the risks faced by Ghanaian citizens travelling to Russia and subsequently becoming involved in the war.
