Ghanaian Prisoners Of War In Ukraine Explain How They Got There And Appeal For Forgiveness

Two Ghanaian nationals currently being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine have publicly shared how they ended up in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and have appealed for forgiveness from both Ghanaians and Ukrainians for their involvement. The men were captured last year while fighting on the front lines and are being detained by Ukrainian forces in a camp at an undisclosed location in the country.

A government delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa recently visited the prisoners to assess their situation and convey messages from the Ghanaian government. Both men admitted they made poor decisions and said they understood how their actions had tarnished Ghana’s reputation as a peaceful nation on the international stage. They asked for clemency and appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to forgive them for what they described as a misjudgment.

According to the accounts given during the visit, the two Ghanaians were lured by agents with promises of legitimate jobs and significant pay — including a large signing bonus and monthly salary — which convinced them to travel abroad. Once they arrived, they were reportedly coerced into signing contracts and eventually deployed to the combat front despite lacking formal military training.

One of the men said the dangerous reality on the battlefield became clear only after deployment, as many of his unit members were killed in action and he had no option but to surrender to Ukrainian troops later. The other prisoner described being moved from a non-combat support role into direct conflict without warning, leading to his capture.

The men also revealed that recruitment syndicates took a portion of their promised earnings and that they believed more than 10 Ghanaians were brought into similar arrangements through the same network, though their current whereabouts are unknown. They reported that other African nationals from countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria and Uganda were also caught up in these schemes.

During the visit, the prisoners spoke about the effect their choices have had on their families and asked Ghanaians to remember them in their prayers. The Ghanaian delegation expressed optimism about securing their eventual release and reintegration, while emphasising the need for increased public awareness about deceptive recruitment tactics that have drawn citizens into conflict abroad.