At least 55 Ghanaians have been killed fighting in the war in Ukraine, with two others currently held as prisoners of war, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed.
On a visit to Kyiv, Ablakwa said that about 272 Ghanaians are believed to have been lured into the conflict since 2022, citing figures from Ukrainian authorities. He described the numbers as “depressing and frightening,” adding that Ghana “cannot turn a blind eye to these heartbreaking statistics.”
The minister did not specify which side the Ghanaians were fighting on. However, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister stated on Wednesday that more than 1,700 people from 36 African countries had been recruited to fight for Russia.
The 55 Ghanaian casualties represent the highest number from a single African country to be officially confirmed in the Ukraine-Russia war.
Local media in Cameroon have reported that 94 of its nationals have died in the conflict, though the authorities have not officially commented on these figures. Additionally, two South Africans and at least one Kenyan have reportedly died in the fighting.
