Ghana’s foreign minister reports 62 deaths linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said that 62 citizens of the country have died in connection with Russia’s war against Ukraine. Another 15 Ghanaians are considered missing, while two are being held by the Ukrainian authorities as prisoners of war.
According to MyJoyOnline, on September 7, 2026, Ablakwa also reported the repatriation of 4,972 Ghanaian citizens from various countries since 2025. He said the operations involved the government, diplomatic missions and international partners. Those returned included people who had found themselves in difficult circumstances abroad, including victims of fraudulent employment and human trafficking.
Statement on illegal recruitment
As the minister noted, illegal recruitment networks lured some young Ghanaians to Russia with promises of opportunities that ultimately led them to the war. The source does not specify how many of the 62 deceased were drawn into the war through such networks.
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MyJoyOnline columnist and executive director of the Media Literacy Development Foundation Ismail Akwei urged Ghanaian youth to carefully verify offers involving cultural exchanges, education, employment and travel to Russia. In his view, participants should find out who organizes and finances the programs, as well as what obligations they entail.
Youth festival in Yekaterinburg
Russia, an aggressor state, is preparing to hold the International Youth Festival in Yekaterinburg from September 11 to 17, 2026. According to the source, the event is expected to bring together thousands of young people from different countries around the world.
Akwei also suggested that universities scrutinize exchange agreements more carefully and that parents take an interest in the programs to which their children are invited. He believes that the safety of participants in educational, cultural and labor programs should be included in Ghana’s negotiations with Russia on ending illegal recruitment. The author also drew attention to a proposed consular fund for the Ghanaian diaspora, while the minister spoke of the significant financial and logistical burden associated with repatriation.
