Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said at least 55 Ghanaians have been killed in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
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‎Mr Ablakwa who visited the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Friday said in an X post that 272 Ghanaians were believed to have been lured into fighting in the war between Russia and Ukraine since 2022, describing the development as “depressing and frightening.”
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‎He said, “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,
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‎”We cannot turn a blind eye to these heartbreaking statistics. These are not just numbers, they represent human lives, the hope of many Ghanaian families and our nation.”
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‎Despite Ghana’s economic and diplomatic ties with Russia, Mr Ablakwa said that Ghana intended to “raise awareness and dismantle dark illegal recruitment operating within our jurisdiction.”
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‎”This is not our war and we cannot allow our youths to become human shields for others,” he added.
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‎Reports of Africans being lured to Russia with promises of a better life were frequent in recent times.
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‎According to a Kenyan intelligence report, more than 1000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia since the war began in 2022, 27 of them were rescued by the Kenyan government after they got stranded.
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‎The South African government earlier this week said two of its citizens died while fighting the war and 17 others were rescued after being tricked to join Russia against Ukraine. A number of Nigerians lured into Russia were also said to have participated in the war and some killed.
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‎Meanwhile, in a briefing on Tuesday,
‎Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, said over 1,780 Africans from 36 different countries were currently fighting in the Russian army.