Ghana has recorded the deaths of 62 of its citizens in Russia after they were allegedly lured into fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, with another 15 Ghanaians still missing, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.
Mr Ablakwa said the disturbing development was among the key concerns he raised with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his ongoing three-day official visit to Russia, where both countries have pledged to work together to stop the illegal recruitment and enlistment of Ghanaian youth into the war.
“Unfortunately, the number of Ghanaian deaths in Russia has gone up. 62 Ghanaians have now died and 15 who travelled to Russia remain missing,” Mr Ablakwa said at a press conference in Moscow following bilateral talks with Mr Lavrov.
He welcomed an undertaking by the Russian Government to collaborate with Ghana to halt what he described as the illegal enlistment of Ghanaian youth.
“The Government of Ghana will continue to lead advocacy on this matter and ensure that our youth are protected from harm’s way. This is not our war and it should not be claiming Ghanaian lives,” he said.
The disclosure adds a significant humanitarian and consular dimension to the Minister’s visit, which has otherwise produced a series of agreements and commitments aimed at deepening Ghana-Russia relations.
Visa waiver agreement
On the first day of the visit, Ghana and Russia signed a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
Mr Ablakwa described the agreement as historic, noting that it represents the first such visa waiver arrangement between the two countries since they established formal diplomatic relations in 1958.
He said the agreement would be followed by further negotiations aimed at securing enhanced travel privileges for other categories of travellers as Ghana and Russia seek to expand trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
The development comes as both countries seek to strengthen bilateral ties in areas ranging from education and energy to trade, technology and multilateral cooperation.
Russia doubles scholarships for Ghana
Russia has also doubled its annual government scholarship allocation for Ghanaian students from 120 to 240.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the full scholarships will prioritise strategic disciplines including artificial intelligence, engineering, petroleum sciences and pharmaceuticals.
The expansion builds on Russia’s longstanding educational ties with Ghana. Russia’s Ambassador to Ghana, Andrei Ordash, said in July that Moscow intended to expand scholarships, youth exchanges, academic partnerships and professional training opportunities for Ghanaians.
Nuclear energy cooperation
Ghana and Russia have further agreed to advance cooperation on Ghana’s peaceful nuclear energy programme as the country pursues diversification of its energy mix.
Mr Ablakwa said the two countries would work together towards Ghana’s objective of incorporating 700 megawatts of nuclear power into the national energy system.
The discussions also covered cooperation on Ghana’s green-transition objectives, positioning energy as one of the major pillars of the renewed Ghana-Russia partnership.
The two countries are also expected to deepen collaboration on global issues, including counterterrorism, climate change and reform of the United Nations.
Ghana acknowledges Russia’s support at UN
During the bilateral talks, Mr Ablakwa conveyed Ghana’s appreciation to Russia for supporting and voting for a Ghana-led landmark United Nations resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement and racialised chattel slavery the gravest crime against humanity.
He said Ghana’s engagement with Russia was aimed at mapping out broader areas of strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The latest developments build on renewed efforts to strengthen Ghana-Russia relations. In January 2026, Ghana’s Ambassador to Russia, Dr Koma Steem Jehu-Appiah, presented his credentials to President Vladimir Putin, with discussions focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, energy and technical support.
Mr Ablakwa’s Moscow visit therefore combines high-level diplomatic engagement with concrete initiatives in citizen protection, education, energy, mobility and multilateral diplomacy, even as the fate of the 15 missing Ghanaians remains a pressing concern for the government.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
