Kyiv – Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday, February 25, marking the first official visit to Ukraine by a Ghanaian foreign minister in the history of bilateral relations, and urged the release of two Ghanaian citizens held as prisoners of war.
During a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andriy Sybiga, Ablakwa called on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to release the two Ghanaians who were captured fighting alongside Russian forces. “We are quite optimistic that this visit will be very successful and that in my later discussions with President Zelensky, he will be magnanimous and compassionate and on humanitarian grounds release these two Ghanaians to us,” Ablakwa stated, according to reporting by Radio France Internationale.
Ablakwa characterized the Ghanaians as “victims of manipulation, of disinformation, misinformation of criminal trafficking networks,” who were lured into fighting for Russia. He also expressed gratitude for the treatment the prisoners have received, noting reports that they “have not been tortured” and “have not suffered any inhumane treatment since they were captured.”
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Sybiga confirmed that the issue of the prisoners was discussed “frankly” and that both sides explored avenues for their return to Ghana. Sybiga also reportedly urged Ghana to increase efforts to prevent its citizens from being recruited by Russia, according to RFI.
The visit comes as Ukraine has identified over 1,780 citizens from 36 African countries, including Ghana, among the ranks of Russian forces, some of whom have been captured. The Ukrainian government has been working to understand how African citizens are being recruited to fight in the conflict.
President Zelenskyy held a meeting with Ablakwa on February 25, the first such meeting between a Ukrainian president and a Ghanaian foreign minister. Discussions focused on cooperation in agriculture, defense, and expanding educational opportunities for Ghanaian students in Ukrainian universities, according to a statement released by the Ukrainian President’s office. Zelenskyy also highlighted the importance of Ghana’s upcoming chairmanship of the African Union and the potential for strengthening ties between Ukraine and Africa during that period.
Sybiga emphasized the importance of Ghana as a partner in West Africa and on the African continent, noting Ghana’s consistent support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including its vote at the UN General Assembly. The two ministers agreed to increase political contacts and expand the legal framework governing their relationship. Discussions also included the possibility of establishing a grain hub in Ghana to contribute to global food stability.
