Stay Away From Russia-Ukraine War • EU Warns Ghana

The European Union (EU) has advised Ghana to stay away from the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, as the war poses a major threat to the country.

According to the EU, the Russian-Ukraine war does not concern Ghana and should therefore not involve its citizens.

Speaking at the signing of a security and defence partnership between the EU-Ghana Security and Defence Partnership in Accra yesterday, Kaja Kallas , the High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission, said, “Russia’s war is a threat to Europe and also has consequences beyond its borders, including in Ghana”.

She issued a warning to the Ghana government regarding the targeted recruitment of African nationals into the Russia-Ukraine conflict, describing the phenomenon as unethical exploitation of economic vulnerability.

“Beyond Russia’s unethical recruitment of African nationals, it places economic hardship on citizens,” Ms Kallas said.

55 Ghanaians Killed

Highlighting the human cost, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, provided the most detailed briefing to date on Ghanaians caught in the conflict. According to Minister Ablakwa, criminal networks have trafficked an estimated 272 Ghanaians to the war zone since the invasion began in 2022.

Of those, 55 have been confirmed dead, and two are currently held as prisoners of war. These figures point to a large-scale, coordinated human trafficking operation targeting Africa. Across the continent, it is estimated that 1,780 individuals from 36 countries have been trafficked to the frontlines. Criminal syndicates often lure victims with promises of high-paying security jobs or other “lucrative” opportunities abroad, only to force them into active combat roles upon arrival.

 The Defence Agreement

The defence agreement signed yesterday is aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas including counterterrorism, intelligence sharing and crisis response.

“This partnership allows us to work more closely in areas that matter for the security of our citizens, both in Europe and Ghana,” Kallas said, describing the deal as the first of its kind between the EU and an African country.

The agreement builds on a broader 50-million-euro ($54 million) EU support package delivered since 2023, which has included advanced communication systems and boats aimed at bolstering Ghana’s border security.

The Ghanaian military will also receive surveillance drones, “anti-drone guns” and motorcycles, Kallas said.