Ghana Reports 55 Citizens Killed Fighting for Russia in Ukraine Conflict

Ghana's foreign minister revealed that at least 55 Ghanaians have died while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, representing one of the highest death tolls among African nations. The minister said 272 Ghanaians total have been deceived into joining the conflict since 2022 through fraudulent recruitment schemes promising jobs or training.

Ghana’s foreign minister disclosed Friday that no fewer than 55 citizens from the West African nation have perished while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, marking one of the most significant casualty counts among African countries involved in the conflict.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, revealed that 272 of his countrymen have been deceived into participating in the conflict since 2022, with two additional individuals currently held as prisoners of war, based on intelligence provided by Ukrainian sources.

Speaking during his visit to Ukraine, Ablakwa stated: “Ukrainian authorities revealed that from their credible intelligence gathering (that) they have documented 1,780 Africans from 36 countries who have been lured by criminal trafficking networks to join the war against Ukraine.”

The West African nation joins an expanding roster of African countries raising alarms about their nationals participating in the conflict, with many recruited through deceptive tactics including promises of well-paying employment or professional development opportunities.

Recent intelligence findings indicated that approximately 1,000 Kenyan citizens were enlisted to fight for Russia after being misled with bogus job offers. The Kenyan administration reports that numerous individuals have been either hospitalized or remain unaccounted for.

Ukraine’s intelligence services reported earlier this month that two Nigerian nationals lost their lives fighting for Russia at the close of last year.

On Wednesday, eleven South African citizens who were reportedly tricked into fighting for Russia returned home, arriving at Durban airport.

In South Africa, authorities are investigating Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, for her suspected role in recruiting over a dozen South African men to Russia.

Ablakwa emphasized: “As a responsible government, we cannot turn a blind eye to these heartbreaking statistics. This is not our war and we cannot allow our youth to become human shields for others.”

The foreign minister announced that Ghana’s administration plans to strengthen public awareness campaigns and work to “track and dismantle all dark web illegal recruitment schemes” active within the nation. He noted that the two imprisoned Ghanaians have urged young people to resist the temptation of financial rewards to participate in the war.