Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has been granted rare access to a highly fortified security camp in Ukraine where two Ghanaian nationals are being held as prisoners of war (POWs).
The development follows Ablakwa’s official visit to Kyiv, during which he held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.
In a post shared on social media on Thursday, Ablakwa expressed profound gratitude to President Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Sybiha for approving his unusual request to visit the detainees.
He described the access as the first of its kind granted to an African Foreign Minister, highlighting it as a testament to the cordial bilateral relations between Ghana and Ukraine.
“I can confirm that our citizens are alive and well. Their rights under international law have been commendably respected by Ukrainian authorities,” Ablakwa stated.
The two Ghanaians, whose identities have been concealed for security reasons, were captured while fighting on the side of Russian forces in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Reports indicate they may have been victims of human trafficking networks that lured vulnerable Africans into combat roles.
During the visit, the detainees expressed strong determination to become advocates against such trafficking schemes upon their release. The two according to the minister pledged to dedicate their lives to educating vulnerable Africans on avoiding similar predicaments.
Ablakwa noted that the gesture from Ukrainian authorities has boosted his confidence in the success of ongoing negotiations for the Ghanaians’ release. He emphasized Ghana’s appeal on humanitarian grounds, describing the discussions with President Zelenskyy as fruitful.