Ghana has stepped up diplomatic efforts to secure the release of two of its citizens being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine, following high-level talks between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
In a Facebook post after the meeting, Mr Ablakwa disclosed that he had been “graciously hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine earlier today”, where discussions centred on Ghana’s appeal for the freedom of the detained nationals.
“We held fruitful discussions focused on Ghana’s appeal on humanitarian grounds for the release of two of our citizens being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine,” the minister wrote, signalling what appears to be Accra’s most direct diplomatic engagement yet on the matter.
Although details of the circumstances under which the two Ghanaians were captured were not disclosed, the Foreign Affairs Minister indicated that their treatment had been a key concern of the government. He said he had “conveyed the gratitude of President Mahama and the Government of Ghana to President Zelenskyy for ensuring that the rights of our citizens being held are protected as required under international law.”
The talks extended beyond the immediate humanitarian issue to broader security concerns affecting African youth. Mr Ablakwa said the bilateral discussions examined “how our two countries can effectively combat the threat posed by trafficking networks who lure vulnerable unsuspecting youth from Africa only to end up risking their lives in the ongoing war.”
His comments suggest growing concern within government about the activities of transnational recruitment and trafficking networks that exploit economic vulnerability, drawing young Africans into conflict zones under false pretences.
Despite the sensitivity of the negotiations, the minister struck an optimistic tone. “I am optimistic that we shall be successful in our negotiations,” he stated, without providing a timeline for any potential release.
The meeting also appears to have opened a broader diplomatic chapter between Accra and Kyiv. According to Mr Ablakwa, both sides agreed to “deepen our relations with strategic interventions outlined in agriculture, defence, education and trade.”
In a further sign of warming ties, he disclosed that “President Zelenskyy has extended a formal invitation to President Mahama as Kyiv seeks to elevate its diplomatic ties with Accra.” Such a visit, if it materialises, would mark a significant moment in Ghana–Ukraine relations at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.
The minister concluded his post with a declaration of government policy, stating: “Every Ghanaian life matters to the Mahama Administration.”
