US economic growth will be hit and prices will rise for consumers as a result of new tariffs on goods entering the country, the head of America’s central bank has warned.

Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, said the import taxes recently announced by President Donald Trump were larger than the bank had expected, going beyond the higher end of its estimates.

His comments followed a period of turmoil on global stock markets as investors reacted to trade tariffs coming into force and the escalating trade war between the US and China.

Powell said surveys of households and businesses reported a “sharp decline” in their sentiment over the economic outlook, largely due to tariff concerns.

Since returning to office, Trump has stoked a trade war by introducing a 10% tax on goods being imported to the US from the vast majority of countries.

He has escalated tariffs further with China by putting a 145% tax on Chinese goods, though there are some exemptions for smartphones. China has hit back with tariffs of 125% on US products. The White House said on Wednesday that when the new tariffs are added on to existing ones the levies on some Chinese goods could reach 245%.

“The level of the tariff increases announced so far is significantly larger than anticipated,” Powell said in his starkest warning on the effects of the new tariffs regime.

“The same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth.”

The US president has said tariffs will boost US manufacturing and jobs, but stock markets have been spooked.

Powell said on Wednesday that impact of the Trump administration’s changes to trade as well as immigration, fiscal policy and regulation on the US economy remained “highly uncertain”.

All three main US stock markets suffered sharp falls on Wednesday. The Dow Jones fell 1.73%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended the day down 2.24% and 3.07%, respectively.

But perhaps more concerning to the Trump administration than stocks and shares plunging in value was the rise in the number of investors dumping US government debt last week.

The rise in the effective interest rate the US government had to pay on its bonds is reported to have contributed to the president’s decision to pause some higher tariffs.

Governments sell bonds – essentially IOUs – to borrow money from financial markets, and in retur,n they pay interest.

The US does not normally see high interest rates on its debt, as its bonds are viewed as a safe investment, but rates spiked sharply last week in a sign investors were losing confidence in the world’s biggest economy. They have settled this week, but remain elevated.

Powell said on Wednesday that despite the uncertainty and ructions in the markets, the “US economy is still in a solid position”.

For now, he said, the Fed could keep its benchmark interest rate steady “to wait for greater clarity before considering any adjustments”.

The Fed’s benchmark interest rate is currently set in a range between 4.25% and 4.5%, where it has been since December following a series of rate cuts late last year.

The central bank has been attacked by Trump for holding rates unchanged. The president’s campaign promises included calls for lower interest rates in order to bring relief to borrowers.

If tariffs push up inflation, as many economists expect, the Fed could decide to hold or even raise rates. Traders on Wednesday kept their bets it will continue to cut rates this year.

But the Fed also has a mandate to maintain maximum employment as well as stable prices.

Should it be caught between rising inflation and a rising unemployment rate, Powell said, “we would consider how far the economy is from each goal” and then look at “the potentially different time horizons” for getting prices under control and bringing the unemployment rate down.

“As that great Chicagoan Ferris Bueller once noted, “life moves pretty fast”, he added.

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The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has ordered a review of the basic school curriculum to address the ongoing controversy surrounding Ghana’s founding history.

Haruna Iddrisu expressed disappointment over the debate the confusion has caused within the educational sector.

The Minister made these remarks in Accra on April 16 while inaugurating a committee tasked with reviewing the curriculum for Primary Four to Six.

The long-standing controversy over who should be credited as the founder or founders of Ghana continues to spark debate.

While some Ghanaians maintain that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is the sole founder of the nation, others argue that Dr. J.B. Danquah and several others played pivotal roles and should also be recognized.

During the previous NPP administration under President Akufo-Addo, August 4 was declared Founders’ Day to honour the collective contributions of Ghana’s forebears.

However, the decision has remained divisive, drawing mixed reactions from Members of Parliament and academia.

In a move to settle the debate and promote historical clarity, Mr Haruna Iddrisu announced the formation of a committee to review the basic education curriculum.

” I am at a loss that at 68 years we are still grappling with who are the founders of Ghana and who is the founding father of Ghana. This must be a settled matter. In every country, there are its founding fathers. It is reasonable to conclude that Dr Kwame Nkrumah is the founding leader of Ghana but if at this stage, you still want children to be asking fathers and mothers question, who the founding father of Ghana is, who are the founders of Ghana, then there is a problem, At 68 years, you shouldn’t be asking who birth you,” he said.

The Education Minister also revealed that the government, under President John Dramani Mahama, will soon introduce a new policy framework dubbed “Beyond Education”, aimed at further reforming the sector.

“Into next year, President John Dramani Mahama should be launching a new flagship in education that will be themed or dubbed ‘Beyond academic skills beyond classroom learning what other competencies or talents can learners acquire’  We expect that in the review of the curriculum, some dedicated time, at least an hour or two be allotted for learners to be with themselves in groups to undertake some national exercises.

“I mean if at school, boys and girls should be doing painting give them one hour to do painting. If they have to be in a group to learn how to farm give them one hour to learn how to farm,” he said.

President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana is ready to lead the digital age.

In a keynote address given at the One Million Ghana Coders Programme (OMCP) Ghana–India on April 16th, the President said, “We are not merely launching a program – we are laying the foundation to a new economy… We are saying to our youth, to our communities, to the continent and to the world: the future is here and we will be part of shaping it.”

As part of his campaign messages for the 2024 general elections, Mr. Mahama promised to train one million Ghanaians in coding. This initiative is part of his efforts to promote digital literacy and skills development in the country.

At the launch of the OMCP, President Mahama emphasized that the program goes beyond a fulfilled campaign promise. “It is a strategic pillar of our Reset Ghana Agenda, designed to empower Ghanaians with digital skills critical for 21st-century life and work,” he said.

He spoke of countries like Estonia, the United Kingdom, Finland, Japan, and the United States, which have transformed their economies by introducing coding into their educational curriculum.

He said if Ghana adopts the blueprints of these countries and applies them to the Ghanaian context, the country stands a chance of becoming Africa’s premier hub for the global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

“As of this year, the global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) market is valued at $410 billion, projected to grow to nearly $490 billion by 2029. Countries like India and the Philippines dominate this space, offering services in software development, data management, customer support, and more,” he said.

Apart from job creation and economic growth, the president said the program will bring about entrepreneurship and innovation. It will also encourage education and lifelong learning. Last but not least, he mentioned inclusion. “Digital transformation must not leave anyone behind,” he stressed.

The President reiterated that one must not underestimate what the OMCP means for Ghana. He said “by embarking on this program, we are changing the national narrative. One from limitations to limitless potentials. Instead of waiting for jobs, Ghanaian youth will create jobs.”

“This is that purpose. This is Ghana’s moment — to rise, to lead, to shape the future. And so, with pride, and with faith in the extraordinary potential of the Ghanaian people, I officially launch the One Million Coders Programme.”

By Benedicta Afi Agbodzi

London, Apr. 16, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – The terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS) brought a series of challenges – including to the UK’s highest court – over the definition of “woman” in Scottish legislation mandating 50% female representation on public boards.

The dispute centres on whether someone with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) recognizing their gender as female should be treated as a woman under the UK 2010 Equality Act.

FWS has previously said not tying the definition of sex to its “ordinary meaning” could have far-reaching consequences for sex-based rights, as well as “everyday single-sex services” like toilets and hospital wards.

However, lawyers for the Scottish Government told the Supreme Court at a hearing in November that a person with a GRC is “recognised in law” as having changed sex.

In a ruling on Wednesday, justices at the UK’s highest court unanimously ruled in FWS’s favour, finding that a GRC does not change a trans person’s legal sex under the Equality Act.

Lord Hodge, sitting with Lords Reed and Lloyd-Jones alongside Ladies Rose and Simler, said the “central question” is how the words “woman” and “sex” are defined in the 2010 legislation.

He continued: “The terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.”

Following the ruling, a government spokesman said: “We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex.

“This ruling brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs.

“Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.”

In an 88-page judgment, justices Lord Hodge, Lady Rose and Lady Simler said that while the word “biological” does not appear in the definition of man or woman in the Equality Act, “the ordinary meaning of those plain and unambiguous words corresponds with the biological characteristics that make an individual a man or a woman”.

The justices added that interpreting biological sex with GRCs would “cut across the definition of the protected characteristic of sex in an incoherent way”.

They continued: “We can identify no good reason why the legislature should have intended that sex-based rights and protections under the EA 2010 should apply to these complex, heterogenous groupings, rather than to the distinct group of, biological, women and girls, or men and boys, with their shared biology leading to shared disadvantage and discrimination faced by them as a distinct group.”

The justices said that transgender people are still protected from discrimination, but that “gender reassignment and sex are separate bases for discrimination and inequality”.

They added: “The interpretation of the Equality Act 2010, ie the biological sex reading, which we conclude is the only correct one, does not cause disadvantage to trans people, with or without a GRC.

“In the light of case law interpreting the relevant provisions, they would be able to invoke the provisions on direct discrimination and harassment, and indirect discrimination.”

They also said: “This conclusion does not remove or diminish the important protections available under the Equality Act 2010 for trans people with a GRC as we have explained.

“To the contrary, this potentially vulnerable group remains protected in the ways we have described.”

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the ruling was a “victory”.

She said: “Saying ‘trans women are women’ was never true in fact, and now isn’t true in law either.

“This is a victory for all of the women who faced personal abuse or lost their jobs for stating the obvious. Women are women and men are men: you cannot change your biological sex.

“The era of (Prime Minister) Keir Starmer telling us women can have penises has come to an end.

“Well done to For Women Scotland!”

Campaign group Sex Matters, which had made arguments in the case, said the court had given “the right answer”.

Maya Forstater, the group’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted that the Supreme Court has accepted the arguments of For Women Scotland and rejected the position of the Scottish Government.

“The court has given us the right answer: the protected characteristic of sex – male and female – refers to reality, not to paperwork.”

During the hearing in November, Aidan O’Neill KC, for FWS, told justices the Scottish ministers’ position that sex, man and woman in the Equality Act refer to “certificated sex” – as the sex on a person’s birth certificate whether or not amended by a gender recognition certificate (GRC) – is “just wrong and should be rejected by the court”.

But Ruth Crawford KC, for the Scottish Government, said a person who becomes a woman “in consequence of a GRC” is entitled to those protections “just as much as others enjoy those protections who are recorded as a woman at birth”.

She also said the “inevitable conclusion” of the FWS challenge, if successful, is that trans women with GRCs would “”remain men until death for the purposes of the Equality Act”.

The court was also told that since the Gender Recognition Act was passed in 2004, 8,464 people in the UK had obtained a GRC which requires a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, living in the acquired gender for at least two years and an intention to live in that gender for the rest of the applicant’s life.

The matter first came to court in 2022 when FWS successfully challenged the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 over its inclusion of trans women in its definition of women.

The Court of Session ruled changing the definition of a woman in the Act was unlawful, as it dealt with matters falling outside the Scottish Parliament’s legal competence.

Following the challenge, the Scottish Government dropped the definition from the Act and issued revised statutory guidance – essentially, advice on how to comply with the law.

This stated that under the 2018 Act the definition of a woman was the same as that set out in the Equality Act 2010, and also that a person with a GRC recognising their gender as female had the sex of a woman.

FWS challenged this revised guidance on the grounds sex under the Equality Act referred to its biological meaning, and the Government was overstepping its powers by effectively redefining the meaning of “woman”.

However, its challenge was rejected by the Court of Session’s Outer House on December 13, 2022.

The Inner House upheld that decision on November 1, 2023 – but granted FWS permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

GNA

PDC

John Darko, Legal Counsel for the Minority, has warned against attempts to remove the Chief Justice, arguing that such actions could set a dangerous precedent for Ghana’s constitutional democracy.

Speaking on the matter in an interview on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Wednesday April 16, Darko emphasised the judiciary’s role as the last independent and sacrosanct institution in the country.

He expressed concern that initiating a process to remove the Chief Justice could lead to a slippery slope, where political parties in power might exploit petitions to target the judiciary for political gains.

“We believe that as a country the only institution left which is still independent, is still standing and sacrosanct is the judiciary. It is a worry that we are expressing that the moment that we begin this process it is a serious slope that we are getting our country into.

“It will be that every political party when it wins the election is going to get people write a petition for us to remove the Chief Justice,” Darko stated.

He highlighted Ghana’s stable history with the judiciary under the 1992 Constitution, citing examples of past presidents working with Chief Justices appointed by their predecessors.

“Kufour met CJ appointed by former president Rawlings. He appointed a CJ and when President John Evans Atta Mills came he worked with the CJ until the CJ went on retirement. This has been our practice as a country. Our CJs have always retired after they have finished their terms. We should allow that to continue,” he added.

Darko urged the nation to uphold this tradition to preserve the stability of Ghana’s constitutional democracy.

“We shouldn’t destabilise our constitutional democracy,” he emphasised.

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Apr – 16 – 2025 , 20:11

By: Grigorii Pyrlik, Contributor

The full-scale war launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine has also served as a catalyst for strengthening Ukraine’s diplomatic presence on a global scale.

Following the start of the war, Ukraine intensified its diplomatic efforts not only with Western allies but also in the so-called Global South, particularly in Africa. Among the 10 new diplomatic missions established in Africa, one of the first to open at the end of 2023 was the Embassy of Ukraine in Ghana.

The Kremlin has traditionally sought to manipulate and maintain influence in many African countries, exploiting the Soviet legacy, historical ties, military cooperation, and economic leverage.

By expanding its diplomatic presence, Ukraine is working to counter these manipulations, strengthening relations with African countries and securing their support in international organizations such as the UN.

Africa is a key market for Ukrainian grain, food products, engineering, and education. The opening of the Embassy in Ghana will foster the expansion of trade, investment, and educational cooperation.

Ukraine’s diplomatic presence also plays a crucial role in countering Kremlin propaganda and disinformation in Africa. Russian narratives seek to divide the world into a so-called “neocolonial” West, allegedly controlling Ukraine, and an “anti-colonial” Russia, which claims to resist Western pressure while enjoying the supposed support of the Global South.

In reality, however, Russia remains one of the world’s last colonial empires, ruthlessly exploiting its territories, oppressing entire peoples, and erasing their national identities.

Through initiatives like “Grain from Ukraine,” Ukraine continues to uphold its role as a reliable grain supplier. It is working to help Ghana and other African nations reduce their dependence on food imports and strengthen their own agricultural production.

How many people does the Ukrainian community in Ghana have and what do Ukrainians living there mainly do?

The Ukrainian community in Ghana is relatively small but active. The exact number of Ukrainians living in the country is unknown, as official Ghanaian statistics on this matter are currently unavailable. However, the Embassy maintains contact with several dozen Ukrainians.

Some Ukrainians moved to Ghana during the Soviet era, often as part of mixed marriages, while others arrived after Ukraine gained independence. Members of the Ukrainian community are involved in various fields, including business, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. Many work as doctors and pharmacists, while others run their own enterprises.

Overall, Ukrainians in Ghana actively integrate into local society, contribute to economic development, and play a role in strengthening bilateral relations between Ukraine and Ghana.

What services are provided by the Embassy of Ukraine in Ghana and what are its working hours?

The Embassy of Ukraine in Ghana currently operates at the level of Chargé d’Affaires. According to Mr. Ivan Lukachuk, the Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine in the Republic of Ghana, the Embassy performs all key functions aimed at strengthening Ukrainian-Ghanaian relations and providing consular services.

Amid Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, the entire Ukrainian diplomatic service operates as a unified and well-coordinated mechanism.

The Embassy is fully committed to fulfilling its diplomatic and consular duties, working tirelessly to deepen Ukrainian-Ghanaian cooperation across various sectors.

The Embassy operates in line with standard diplomatic mission hours, from Monday to Friday. Reception hours for consular services: 09:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Twice escaped from war: a businessman’s story

— I still have the keys to the apartment I rented in Donetsk, — says Ghanaian businessman Joshua , sharing a story that mirrors the experiences of thousands of Ukrainian refugees. Many Ukrainians have also kept the keys to homes destroyed by Russia or to apartments in occupied cities since 2014—places they could no longer return to.

Joshua arrived in Ukraine in 2013 to pursue his university studies. At the time, Donetsk seemed like a logical choice. It was Ukraine’s fifth-largest city, home to nearly a million people, and a major industrial and cultural hub that had hosted Euro 2012 just a year earlier.

But everything changed in the spring of 2014. Following the victory of the Revolution of Dignity in Kyiv and the flight of president Viktor Yanukovych, Russia occupied Crimea and fueled separatist movements in eastern Ukraine.

In Donetsk, armed demonstrators seized government buildings and, on April 7, 2014, proclaimed the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DPR).

Even Russia did not officially recognize this entity until 2022, and to date, only four countries—Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Syria—have acknowledged it. As the situation in Donetsk became increasingly dangerous, Joshua was forced to flee for the first time.

— The railway was not operational, so we found a taxi to take us to Kostiantynivka. It was incredibly difficult to leave. Several times, Russian-backed militants stopped our car for inspections, — he recalls.

Joshua eventually continued his studies in Vinnytsia, a city in west-central Ukraine. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Donetsk National University—an institution that itself had to be relocated from Donetsk after the city fell under Russian occupation.

Why Ukraine attracts African students

After graduating, Joshua founded a company that helps African students enroll in Ukrainian universities. Despite the ongoing Russian aggression in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since 2014, life in the rest of Ukraine remained peaceful before the full-scale invasion in 2022.

African students were drawn to Ukraine because of its relatively affordable tuition fees and internationally recognized diplomas, which are accepted in many countries, Joshua explains.

In the 2021-2022 academic year, more than 20,000 students from 50 African countries studied in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian State Center for International Education. Among them, 1,072 were from Ghana.

When Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, Joshua helped evacuate African students.

— I was the last Ghanaian to leave Ukraine. I helped students studying in Kharkiv and Sumy evacuate. I coordinated with our government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We transported people to Slovakia and Romania. Most returned to Ghana, while some stayed in the EU to continue their studies at other universities, — Joshua recalls.

However, according to Joshua, not all Ghanaian students left Ukraine. A group of 107 future specialists decided to stay and continue their education. Joshua himself is currently completing his postgraduate studies in Ukraine.

Russia’s invasion has significantly affected Ukraine’s education system. As of November 2024, the Ukrainian Ministry of Education reported that 11 universities and colleges had been completely destroyed, while 279 had suffered damage.

Despite this, Ukrainian universities continue to operate. In frontline regions and areas under frequent Russian attacks, education is conducted entirely online. However, in cities such as Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Ternopil, students still attend in-person classes.

Joshua holds documents bearing Ukraine’s national emblem. They are referrals for dozens of African applicants preparing to enroll in Ukrainian universities in the upcoming academic year. These students are not deterred by the war; they remain committed to their pursuit of knowledge.

Getting to Ukraine, however, presents logistical challenges. Since 2022, due to the threat of Russian missiles and drone attacks, Ukraine’s airspace has been closed to civilian flights.

Travelers must first fly to Moldova or nearby EU countries—Romania, Poland, or Hungary—before continuing their journey by bus or train. This means Ghanaian students must secure a transit visa, either a Schengen or Moldovan visa.

Additionally, applicants must prepare a full set of documents for Ukrainian universities. Joshua notes that this process has become much easier since the Ukrainian Embassy in Accra opened in November 2023.

— If I have any questions about document legalization, I can consult the Embassy. They help me complete everything correctly and inform me about any legislative changes. The opening of the Ukrainian Embassy in Ghana has been a great help, — says Joshua.

Oil, cocoa, ore: what Ukraine and Ghana trade with each other

The opening of the Ukrainian Embassy in Ghana has brought significant relief to Ukrainian entrepreneurs. Mrs. Tetiana, a Ukrainian businesswoman and director of the Ukrainian company operating in logistics and agricultural export, has especially felt the benefits. Her company supplies Ukrainian agricultural products to West African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Ghana.

In particular, Tetiana’s company imports sunflower oil and soybeans to Ghana. Over the past two years, Tetiana has visited Ghana 12 times, and her company, registered in Ghana’s free economic zone, plans to open an oil bottling plant in the country.

— The Ukrainian Embassy helps everyone. We held meetings there, with either the Chargé d’Affaires or the consul personally assisting us — in particular, with translation.

Since the Embassy opened, working here has become much easier. Previously, Ghanaian officials were indifferent toward us, particularly in the business sector and free economic zone authorities.

For three years, we struggled to obtain permits to operate in the free economic zone. But after the Embassy opened, the attitude toward us changed, and we finally got the necessary documents, — Tetiana explains.

Tetiana is confident that Ukraine and Ghana have great potential for economic cooperation. Ukrainian businesses could export fresh vegetables, canned goods, and confectionery to Ghana, while Ghana could supply Ukraine with tropical fruits such as bananas, coconuts, and chocolate. During her trips, Tetiana enjoys trying local fruits.

— The coconuts here are delicious and incredibly cheap. And the sucrose content in Ghanaian bananas must be as high as at a sugar factory in Chernivtsi, — she jokes, referencing her hometown in Ukraine.

It’s not just Ukrainian and Ghanaian business people who see opportunities for cooperation—their governments do too. In January 2023, Ukraine’s and Ghana’s Ministers of Agriculture discussed establishing a logistics hub for food storage. Later, in June 2024, President of Ukraine H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Ghana’s then-President H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, instructing their governments to facilitate the export of agricultural products to Ghana.

Ukrainian Embassy officials emphasize the importance of these exports: — Ukraine, reaffirming its role as a reliable grain supplier under the Grain from Ukraine initiative, is working to help Ghana and other African nations reduce their dependence on food imports and enhance domestic production, — they stated. The war has severely impacted Ukraine-Ghana economic relations.

In 2021, trade turnover reached $300.06 million, but it plummeted to just $72.31 million in 2022. In 2024, trade is approaching $50 million. Ghana primarily exports ore raw materials, cocoa, and cocoa products to Ukraine, while Ukraine supplies ferrous metals, fats, and animal oils to Ghana. These figures were highlighted by Dr. Maksym Subkh, Ukraine’s Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, in an op-ed for the Ukrainian newspaper Apostrophe.

Mr. Yuriy Oliynyk, a political science expert at the Ukrainian Strategic Studies Centre, points out that while agriculture remains the foundation of Ukrainian exports to Ghana, there is room for growth.

— This includes engineering and IT technologies. While not yet at the level we’d like, there is definite potential, — says Oliynyk.

On March 18, 2025, Ukraine’s and Ghana’s Foreign Ministers, H.E. Andriy Sybiha and H.E. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, met in New Delhi, India. This was the first high-level meeting since Ghana’s newly elected President John Mahama took office.

During the meeting, Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to investing in Ghana’s food security and strengthening ties with African nations.

RT and the bot network: how Russia spreads anti-Ukrainian propaganda in Africa

Ukraine is actively working to deepen cooperation in the agricultural sector, not only for economic benefits but also to counter Russian propaganda in Africa.

Ukrainian diplomats explain that Moscow exploits its status as a major exporter of grain and fertilizers to influence African nations. In reality, Russia has been illegally exporting stolen grain from Ukraine’s occupied territories to Africa.

In September 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia and its allies had sold $1 billion worth of grain taken from Ukrainian territories on the global black market.

Beyond economic tactics, Russia also manipulates historical narratives to strengthen its presence in Africa. Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine in Ghana, Mr. Ivan Lukachuk, highlights how Russian propaganda capitalizes on Africa’s colonial past.

— Russian propagandists label Western nations as “neo-colonial” powers while portraying Russia as an “anti-colonial” force. However, the reality is quite different. The Russian Federation controls more than 100 indigenous nations, systematically suppressing their languages, cultures, and identities.

It sends people from these communities to fight against Ukraine. In August 2024, the Siberia. Realities project reported that indigenous groups from the Russian North were suffering devastating losses in the war. Some ethnic groups now have only a few dozen members left, — Lukachuk explains.

— Russia is perhaps the only empire in the world composed of internal colonies, which it ruthlessly exploits, oppressing entire nations and erasing their identities, — he adds.

Overcoming Russian disinformation in Africa is a major challenge for Ukraine. Russia has established an extensive propaganda network using state-controlled media outlets like Sputnik and RT, as well as anonymous social media accounts and bots. Ukrainian businesswoman Tetiana, who frequently visits Ghana, notes that even search engine algorithms in the country favor Russian narratives.

— I subscribe exclusively to Ukrainian news channels on YouTube. But in Ghana, I had to search for the name three times before I could find the right news sources, — she recalls.

To counter Russian influence, the Ukrainian Embassy and local Ukrainian community actively organize events to share Kyiv’s perspective. On 24 February 2025, diplomats in Accra marked the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion by hosting a screening of short films about the consequences of the war. Tetiana, a volunteer who supports Ukrainian soldiers by delivering essential supplies, also spoke at the event.

— The realities of war are harsh. You stand with soldiers, hug them, and then move 15 kilometers away. Moments later, they call you: “We’re under fire.” When you return, there’s no one left—everyone has been killed, — she shared with the audience.

The presence of Ukrainian diplomats in Ghana plays a vital role in countering Russian influence and building Ukraine’s image in Africa. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Kyiv has opened 10 new embassies across the continent.

Despite Ukraine’s diplomatic push in Africa, its missions remain understaffed. Ghana has yet to appoint an Ambassador, and the Ukrainian mission in Accra currently consists of only two diplomats—a Chargé d’Affaires and a consul. Political analyst Dr. Yuriy Oliynyk explains that staffing these embassies is a challenge due to the distance and personal preferences of diplomats.

— Many diplomats prefer postings in Europe, closer to home, rather than spending several years in a distant country. Additionally, selecting an Ambassador requires approval from both Ukraine and the host country, which can take time, — he says.

Despite these challenges, the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Ghana has successfully established a strong presence. It provides consular services, supports businesses, and promotes Ukrainian culture. One of the Embassy’s cultural initiatives is the annual Shevchenko Days in Accra, where participants recite poetry by Ukraine’s most famous writer, Taras Shevchenko.

For Ghanaian businessman Joshua, who has learned Ukrainian over the years, these events are particularly meaningful.

At the end of his conversation with a GhanaWeb correspondent, he recited a well-known Ukrainian poem, “Prayer for Ukraine”: “God, great and one, save Ukraine for us.”

By: Grigorii Pyrlik, Contributor

By Edward Dankwah 

Accra, April 16, GNA – The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) has presented 20 laptop computers valued at GH¢139,890.00 to the Army Recruit Training School (ARTS) to support its digital transformation agenda. 

The donation formed part of efforts to bridge the digital divide in Ghana. 

Dr. Sofo Tanko Rashid Computer, the Administrator of GIFEC, led the Management to make the presentation at the headquarters of the Army Recruit Training School at Shai Hills in the Greater Accra Region. 

The gesture forms part of GIFEC’s mandate to extend ICT tools and digital access to underserved institutions across the country, including security agencies. 

The request for support was initiated by the leadership of the Army Recruit Training School as part of its strategic drive to modernise its operations, improve administrative efficiency, and enhance digital learning and communication within the training environment. 

Dr. Rashid Computer said the Fund responded swiftly to the request due to the critical role the Ghana Armed Forces play in maintaining national security and contributing to national development. 

 “Supporting institutions like the Army Recruit Training School aligns with our broader mission to ensure inclusive access to ICT infrastructure and digital tools,” he said. 

The Administrator underscored the importance of deepening collaboration between GIFEC and the Army Recruit Training School.  

He noted that such partnerships were essential to addressing the persistent digital divide, especially in areas facing network and connectivity challenges. 

“The Shai Hills area, where the training school is located, continues to experience notable network issues which impact the quality of digital access and communication,” the Administrator said. 

The Administrator said as part of their commitment, GIFEC would work closely with relevant stakeholders to improve internet connectivity in the area, to ensure that the benefits of the laptops were fully realised. 

He said the donation marked the beginning of a broader support initiative.  “In the coming months, we will explore the provision of desktop computers, related accessories such as scanners, printers, projectors among others to further enhance the digital capabilities of the school,” he added. 

Lieutenant Colonel Ambitious Nazar, Commanding Officer, receiving the laptops, thanked GIFEC for the timely intervention.  

He said the laptops would greatly improve teaching and learning, bolster administrative processes, and enhance communication within the institution. 

This initiative forms part of GIFEC’s broader strategic objective to promote digital inclusion, particularly among public institutions and in rural and underserved communities across Ghana. 

Present at the donation ceremony for GIFEC were Ms. Francisca Mawufemor Adjei, Director, Corporate Affairs, Ms. Ruth Ayiintimii Azantilow, Senior Manager and PA to the Administrator and Mr. Fredrick Kojo Aidoo, Head of Corporate Affairs Unit. 

GNA 

SOF