Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa visited 2 Ghanaian prisoners of war in Ukraine
Two Ghanaian prisoners of war being held in Ukraine have appealed for forgiveness over their involvement in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
According to a report by graphic.com.gh on Friday, February 27, 2026, the two whose identities remain undisclosed were captured in the batterie in 2025 and are currently held in a detention facility in Ukraine.
“During a visit to the camp by a government delegation led by foreign affairs minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the two admitted that their participation in the war was wrong and had negatively affected Ghana’s global reputation.
“They appealed for clemency and asked both President John Dramani Mahama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to forgive them,” the report stated.
One detainee explained that financial difficulties, particularly the inability to pay for university enrolment in 2024, pushed him to accept an offer to join the Russian forces with the promise of 1.9 million rubles and a monthly salary of 200,000 rubles.
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Although initially recruited as a fire rescue officer, he said he was later deployed to the combat frontline against his will.
“We are very sorry for what we did. We know people all over the world know Ghana as a peaceful country with peace-loving people, but we have stained that status. We are not proud of what we did and we ask Ghanaians and Ukrainians for forgiveness.
“We know we have hurt a lot of people; but we ask for forgiveness. We’re also very sorry to our families; we know they’re very much worried about us. Let our families know that we’re alive and continue to remember us in your prayers,” he pleaded.
He claimed many members of his unit were killed in bomb explosions before he was captured.
While he noted that he had been treated humanely in detention, he continues to suffer pain from shrapnel lodged in parts of his body.
The second detainee who is a graphic designer said he was persuaded to join after a Russian police officer repeatedly warned him about overstaying his 14-week visa.
He noted that, “although he initially served for eight months without engaging in combat, he was later sent to the frontline following a change in command”.
According to him, more than 10 Ghanaians were recruited through an agent who promised legitimate jobs but later coerced them into signing contracts to serve in the Russian army. He said he is unaware of their whereabouts or whether they are still alive.
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He also alleged that the recruitment network took a 30 per cent cut from the salaries of African recruits.
The two further revealed that detainees from other African countries — including Nigeria, Egypt, Burundi, Algeria, Morocco and Uganda — were also being held.
Ukrainian officials had earlier claimed that Russia recruited 1,785 Africans from 36 countries, including Ghana, to support its war effort.
The report further noted that Ablakwa conveyed a message from President Mahama, assuring them of forgiveness and reaffirming the government’s commitment to securing their release in collaboration with Ukrainian authorities.
The conflict began in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, escalating tensions that had been simmering since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The war has led to deaths, massive displacement, and global economic disruption.
Ukraine, supported by Western countries, has been defending its sovereignty, while Russia continues to exert military pressure in key regions.
The conflict has also drawn foreign fighters, some of whom have been recruited through illicit networks, including individuals from African countries.
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Source:
www.ghanaweb.com
