Key facts
- Ghana has asked Russia to stop recruiting its citizens for the war in Ukraine.
- Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa reported 62 citizens killed and 15 missing.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged receiving similar requests from other nations.
- Lavrov stated that Ghanaian citizens signed contracts for reasons of solidarity and financial benefits.
- Both ministers agreed to collaborate on resolving the issue.
Ghana has formally requested that Russia cease the "illegal recruitment" of its citizens for the conflict in Ukraine, according to Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. Ablakwa stated that 62 Ghanaian citizens have been killed in the war, with an additional 15 remaining unaccounted for.
The appeal comes amid broader concerns from various nations about Russia's recruitment of foreign nationals as mercenaries. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking after talks with Ablakwa, suggested that Ghanaian citizens had entered into contracts with Russia's Defense Ministry due to "solidarity" with the country and for "material and financial reasons."
Ablakwa confirmed that he and Lavrov agreed to cooperate in addressing the issue. Lavrov also indicated that the Russian Defense Ministry has established a dedicated body to handle such requests from other countries.
Ukraine's military intelligence agency previously claimed Russia intends to recruit over 18,500 foreigners in 2026. In February, a Ukrainian official stated that approximately 1,780 citizens from various African nations were known to be fighting for Russia. Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, Russia has reportedly recruited fighters from Global South countries by offering financial incentives and the prospect of Russian citizenship, leading some nations like Botswana to issue warnings about deceptive recruitment practices.