Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed on Friday that 55 Ghanaian nationals have been killed while fighting in Ukraine after allegedly being recruited to support Russia’s war effort.
In a statement shared on X following a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv, Ablakwa said authorities had been informed that 272 Ghanaians were believed to have been drawn into the conflict since 2022. Of that number, an estimated 55 have died, while two were captured and are currently held as prisoners of war.
He described the development as “depressing and frightening,” stressing that the figures represent real lives and devastated families. “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,” he wrote.
Ukrainian officials earlier this week indicated that more than 1,780 individuals from 36 African countries have been identified among Russian forces engaged in the conflict.
Ablakwa stated that Ghana’s government is determined to confront illegal recruitment operations, particularly those conducted through online platforms. He said authorities are “committed to tracking and dismantling all dark web illegal recruitment schemes operating within our jurisdiction.”
Investigations and media reports have shed light on how some Africans were allegedly enticed with promises of well-paying civilian jobs in Russia, only to be compelled to sign military contracts and deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine with minimal preparation.
Journalists previously encountered prisoners of war from Kenya, Togo, Cameroon, and Nigeria during visits to Ukraine in late 2025. Some survivors who returned home recounted being misled about the nature of their employment before being forced into combat roles.
In Kenya, prosecutors have charged a suspected central figure accused of facilitating the movement of more than 1,000 citizens to fight for the Russian military with human trafficking offences.
Meanwhile, South Africa recently repatriated 15 men reportedly deceived into joining mercenary groups. According to South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, several others remain in Russia, and at least two South Africans have died in the conflict.
The revelations highlight growing concerns across the continent about the exploitation of vulnerable individuals through deceptive recruitment schemes linked to the ongoing war.
What You Should Know
Ghana has confirmed that 55 of its citizens have been killed after being recruited to fight in Ukraine on Russia’s side, with 272 believed to have been drawn into the conflict since 2022.
Ukrainian authorities say over 1,780 Africans from 36 countries have been identified among Russian ranks.
Ghana is pledging to crack down on illegal recruitment networks, while similar cases have emerged in Kenya and South Africa involving alleged trafficking and deceptive job offers.
