62 Ghanaians Killed, 15 Missing in Russia-Ukraine War – Ablakwa

At least 62 Ghanaians have been killed and another 15 remain missing after becoming caught up in the Russia-Ukraine war, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.

The figures have renewed concerns about the growing number of Ghanaian citizens travelling to Russia and subsequently finding themselves involved in the conflict.

The issue was raised during diplomatic engagements between Ghana and Russia, as the Ghanaian government pushes for stronger measures to stop the recruitment of its citizens into the war.

Ghana Raises Alarm Over Recruitment

For the Ghanaian government, the concern goes beyond the number of casualties.

According to Ablakwa, some Ghanaians have travelled to Russia believing they were taking up legitimate employment opportunities, only to end up being drawn into military activities.

The government has therefore been pressing Russian authorities to help stop the recruitment of Ghanaian nationals.

The latest disclosure means that 62 Ghanaian citizens have now been confirmed dead, while the whereabouts of 15 others remain unknown.

The figures underline the human cost of the recruitment problem and the uncertainty facing families who are still waiting for information about their relatives.

15 Ghanaians Still Missing

While the deaths have been confirmed, the situation remains particularly painful for families whose relatives are among the 15 people still reported missing.

For those families, the lack of information can be as distressing as the confirmation of a death.

The Ghanaian government is seeking greater cooperation from Russian authorities to establish what happened to the missing citizens and to prevent additional Ghanaians from being recruited.

Ablakwa Takes Up the Issue With Russia

Ablakwa raised the matter during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

The Ghanaian minister called for an end to the recruitment of Ghanaian citizens for participation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The discussions form part of Ghana's broader diplomatic efforts to protect its citizens and address the consequences of recruitment into the war.

The latest figures also highlight the difficulty governments face when citizens are recruited or persuaded to travel abroad through employment offers that may ultimately expose them to military involvement.

A Growing Concern for Ghanaian Families

For many families, the issue is no longer simply about international diplomacy.

It is about sons, brothers, husbands and other relatives who travelled abroad expecting better economic opportunities and ended up in one of the world's most devastating conflicts.

The Ghanaian government is now under pressure to do more to identify those at risk, establish the whereabouts of missing citizens and prevent further recruitment.

The disclosure of 62 deaths and 15 missing persons is therefore likely to keep the issue high on Ghana's diplomatic and public agenda.

Global Pulse GH will continue to follow developments concerning the affected Ghanaian citizens and the government's engagements with Russian authorities.