Sixty-two Ghanaian nationals have been killed and 15 others remain missing after travelling to Russia amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.
The minister made the disclosure during a press conference in Moscow following bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
In a post on Tuesday, August 18, Mr Ablakwa said: “Unfortunately, the number of Ghanaian deaths in Russia has gone up. Sixty-two Ghanaians have now died, and 15 who travelled to Russia remain missing.”
He said discussions with Mr Lavrov centred on the need to stop the alleged illegal recruitment of Ghanaian citizens who are lured to Russia and subsequently enlisted to fight in military operations.
“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,” Mr Ablakwa said.
According to the minister, the Russian government has pledged to work with Ghana to prevent illegal enlistment. He said he had welcomed the pledge, adding that the Ghanaian government would continue to engage Russian authorities to put in place measures to protect 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 added.