Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly pledged to prevent Ghanaian nationals from taking part in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, following diplomatic concerns expressed by President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ghana announced the development in a Facebook publication on Monday, November 2, 2026, following bilateral engagements during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, which took place from October 28 to 29.
According to the Ministry, President Putin assured his Ghanaian counterpart that the restriction would cover every form of involvement, including unofficial recruitment networks and individuals seeking to enlist voluntarily.
The commitment comes against the backdrop of increasing reports of Ghanaian citizens being enticed into Russia’s armed forces with promises of attractive job opportunities before eventually being sent to the Ukrainian battlefield.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed on August 17, 2026, that approximately 62 Ghanaians had lost their lives in the conflict, while another 15 remained unaccounted for.
Earlier, in July, the Minister estimated that 272 Ghanaian nationals had been enlisted into the Russian military since the war began in 2022.
At the time, authorities had recorded 55 fatalities, with two others reportedly detained as prisoners of war.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong