By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, Jan. 3, GNA – Ghana has commenced diplomatic negotiations with Ukraine to secure the release of a Ghanaian national being held by Ukrainian authorities as a prisoner of war, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed.
The Minister, in a statement, said the Ukrainian Government had formally notified Ghana of the arrest of the national and provided his identity, which Ghanaian authorities had since verified.
Available evidence, according to the Minister, indicates that the Ghanaian travelled to Moscow, Russia, on July 7, 2024, where records show he signed a contract to join the 2nd Assault Company of the 71st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division.
He was later involved in hostilities in the Zaporizhzhia direction of the ongoing Russia /Ukraine war.
Mr. Ablakwa said he held a meeting on Thursday with the Acting Ambassador of Ukraine to Ghana, Ivan Lukachuk, during which he appealed for the release of the detained Ghanaian to come home.
He noted that a special diplomatic message had been sent to Kyiv to formally press Ghana’s position, adding that he was scheduled to travel to Ukraine in the coming weeks to continue negotiations aimed at securing the release.
The Minister said Ghana had objected to any attempt to include the national in a potential prisoners-of-war exchange between Ukraine and Russia, warning that such a move could further expose him to danger.
He expressed optimism that Ghana’s ongoing diplomatic engagement would yield positive results, citing the country’s cordial relations with Ukraine and its long-standing advocacy for peace and the cessation of hostilities.
Mr. Ablakwa issued a strong caution to the youth of Ghana, urging them to be vigilant against criminal recruitment and human trafficking networks that operate clandestinely, often through the dark web.
“It is extremely dangerous to get involved in any conflict. You can be killed or captured,” the Minister warned, appealing to young people not to fall prey as to such schemes.
He reaffirmed that the Mahama administration remained committed to prioritising the welfare of all Ghanaians and ensuring that no citizen was left in harm’s way.
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong
