Ghana Moves Diplomatically to Secure Release of Citizen Detained in Ukraine

SadaNews - The Ghanaian Foreign Ministry announced that Ukrainian authorities have officially informed Accra about the detention of a Ghanaian citizen, holding him as a "prisoner of war." Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa clarified that his country has verified the identity of the detainee after receiving information from the Ukrainian side, affirming that the government is closely monitoring the case and considers it a priority on its diplomatic agenda.

Initial information indicates that the Ghanaian citizen traveled to Moscow in July 2024 and is believed to have joined a Russian combat unit before his arrest, making him one of the prisoners held by Kyiv in the context of the ongoing war with Russia.

The Ghanaian Foreign Minister confirmed that his country has initiated direct communications with Ukrainian authorities to secure the release of its detained citizen. He emphasized that the government is committed to protecting the rights of its citizens wherever they may be, noting that the detainee's identity has not been disclosed to maintain his privacy and personal security. He also clarified that diplomatic efforts will continue until a solution is reached that ensures his safe return to his homeland.

Diplomatic Dimensions

This case reflects how the effects of the Russian-Ukrainian war can extend to distant countries such as Ghana, presenting them with complex diplomatic and humanitarian challenges, and raising questions about the role of African governments in protecting their citizens from engaging in foreign conflicts.

According to observers, Ghana's success in securing the release of its citizen will reinforce its image as a country that cares for its nationals abroad, while the continued detention could open a broad internal discussion about the phenomenon of irregular migration and the search for job opportunities in conflict areas. Furthermore, the issue could test the diplomatic relations between Accra and Kyiv, and possibly with Moscow as well, amid the complex international balances imposed by the war.

Source: Al Jazeera