Russia promises to ban recruitment of Ghanaians for Ukraine war
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Africanews
Russia has pledged to ban the recruitment of Ghanaian nationals to fight in Ukraine after President John Mahama raised the issue with Vladimir Putin. The assurance was reportedly given on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, and Accra said the ban would also cover voluntary enlistment, according to a Ghanaian statement reported by Africa News.
Russia will ban the recruitment of Ghanaian nationals to fight in Ukraine, Ghana announced after Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the assurance to his Ghanaian counterpart John Mahama on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow. The ban is to cover irregular recruitment as well as voluntary enlistment, according to an Accra statement reported by Africanews.
More than 270 Ghanaians had fought for Russia by mid-August, including at least 62 who had been killed and 15 who were missing, according to figures released by Ghana. Accra had accused recruiters of deceiving its citizens with false promises of employment or training. Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and Gambia have also reported similar cases, according to Africanews.
Russia’s commitment follows the request made by John Mahama during the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, after his calls to Vladimir Putin for a peaceful settlement to the war in Ukraine on 26 and 29 October 2026.
