Ghanaian prisoners of war in Ukraine have pleaded for forgiveness for their involvement in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The two, whose names have not been given, are being held in a camp by Ukrainian forces who captured them last year on the battlefield.
During a visit to the facility by a government delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, at an undisclosed location in Ukraine yesterday, the two acknowledged that their involvement was inappropriate and had dented the country’s image worldwide.
They pleaded for clemency and appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to forgive them for their role in the war.
“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,” one pleaded.
Recruitment
One claimed that he was lured to join the Russian forces due to financial challenges in paying for his university enrolment in 2024.
With a guaranteed 1.9 million Russian Ruble, and a monthly salary of 200,000 Ruble, he joined the army as a fire rescue officer, until he was later sent on the combat frontline by his Russian superiors against his will.
He claimed that most of his unit members were killed through bomb explosions. However, he was spared and later captured.
He said he had been treated humanely at the camp, except that he was still suffering from some fragments of the explosives in parts of his body which made him experience pains at certain times of the day.
Colleague
His colleague, who said he was a graphic designer until he was lured by a Russian police officer who often warned him for overstaying a 14-week visa granted him to Russia.
He acknowledged that though the first eight months of joining the Russian forces was without any combat, he was later deployed to the frontline due to the change of his commandant.
He claimed to have run away from the battle front after most of his compatriots were killed in action, and surrendered to the Ukrainian soldiers who captured him as a prisoner of war.
He said during the training, more than 10 Ghanaians were lured by an agent who promised them a decent job, only to coerce them to join the Russian army after signing some contract documents.
He said he could not tell where those Ghanaians were deployed, and therefore, did not know whether they were still alive or not.
He claimed that the recruitment syndicate took 30 per cent share of the salary of each African recruit into the Russian army for the ongoing war.
The two confirmed that there were also prisoners of war from some other African countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, Burundi, Algeria, Morocco, Uganda.
Ukrainian officials in an earlier briefing alleged that Russia had recruited 1,785 Africans from 36 African countries, including Ghana.
Assurance
Mr Ablakwa conveyed the government’s message to the two, and said: “President Mahama says I should tell you that he has forgiven you.
The people of Ghana have also forgiven you.”
“We are committed to working with the Ukrainian officials for your release.
We have discussed that with President Zelenskyy, but we still have some paperwork to do.
“We hope and pray that we can secure your release soon to commence your rehabilitation and reintegration, and to also become ambassadors for peace,” he added.
The minister appealed for a cease fire in the war, while advising young Ghanaians seeking greener pastures to be very thorough in their investigations before accepting any deal or offer of better job opportunities.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
