At least 55 Ghanaians have been killed in the Ukraine war after being recruited to fight for Russia, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed, stating that the government will intensify efforts to dismantle illegal recruitment networks targeting young citizens.
The Ukraine war recruitment of Ghanaian nationals has become a growing concern for the government in Accra, with officials reporting that 272 Ghanaians have been lured into the conflict since 2022. According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, an estimated 55 have died and two have been captured as prisoners of war on the frontline.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa travelled to Kyiv this week to hold discussions with Ukrainian authorities regarding the fate of two detained Ghanaians. During the visit, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said more than 1,780 Africans from 36 countries are currently fighting on Russia’s side against Ukraine.
In a statement posted on X, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described the affected Ghanaians as victims of “manipulation, misinformation and criminal trafficking networks”. He said the government would not ignore the human impact of the conflict on Ghanaian families.
“We were informed that 272 Ghanaians are believed to have been lured into battle since 2022 for which an estimated 55 have been killed and two captured as prisoners of war,” he wrote, adding that Ghana is committed to tracking and dismantling illegal recruitment schemes operating within its jurisdiction.
The foreign minister stressed that Ghana is not a party to the conflict and warned against allowing young citizens to become involved in foreign wars under false pretences.
Monitoring group All Eyes on Wagner said earlier this month that the recruitment of African national’s forms part of a deliberate strategy by Russia to reinforce its military ranks as the war continues. According to the group’s February report, the largest numbers of African recruits come from Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana. The report stated that recruitment networks exploit economic vulnerabilities across several African countries.
AFP reporters who visited a detention centre in Ukraine last year met prisoners of war from Kenya, Togo, Cameroon and Nigeria. Several former recruits who returned to Kenya this month said they were promised civilian jobs in Russia but were later required to sign military contracts and sent to the battlefield with limited training.
In Kenya, a key figure accused of sending more than 1,000 nationals to fight for Russia was charged with human trafficking on Thursday, according to the state prosecutor.
South Africa has also addressed similar cases. President Cyril Ramaphosa this week expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin following the return of South Africans who had been recruited to fight in Ukraine. Eleven men returned home on Wednesday, with four arriving the previous week. Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into their recruitment.
Uganda has identified forced recruitment networks involving its citizens, while Gambia and Nigeria have raised concerns over nationals participating in the conflict.
The International Crisis Group said in a report published on Friday that the recruitment scandal shows the Ukraine war is no longer a distant geopolitical issue for African governments. As more African nationals become directly involved, political leaders could face domestic pressure that challenges long-standing non-alignment policies.
The Ghana government has indicated it will strengthen enforcement measures and cooperate with international partners to prevent further illicit recruitment, as the Ukraine war continues to draw foreign nationals into its frontline.
