Ghanaian workers lured to Russia find themselves on Ukrainian front
Fourteen Ghanaians, enticed by the vision of well-paying jobs in Russia instead of the promised employment in the security and agriculture sectors, ended up on the front lines of the war in Ukraine. "We beg you, save us," says one of the men.
The recruitment started in Ghana, where Abraham Boakye, known as One Man Supporter, invited 14 people to Russia, promising them stable employment. The work was supposed to be well-paid, and depending on qualifications, positions were offered in security services or agriculture. Boakye convinced them that short military training in the Russian army was necessary before starting the work.
On 6 August, the group of men arrived in Moscow, from where they were transported to Kostroma, a northeast city of the Russian capital. They all covered the costs of their plane tickets and visas out of their own pockets, counting on the promised employment.
Upon arriving in Kostroma, they were forced to sign contracts in Russian, which none of them understood. Worse still, their passports were taken from them, effectively preventing them from returning home.
In the last few days, three surviving members of the group who reached out to TV3 have revealed that they are currently in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region. They expressed their fears that their colleagues were sent to the front lines and are most likely dead. One of the men confessed:
We are currently in Ukraine... we have no combat experience. We beg you, we want to go home.
The men's families, concerned about the fate of their loved ones, have reached out to the Ghana Police Headquarters for help, hoping for support and intervention in this matter.
Russia recruits foreigners from all over the world
Similar cases where foreigners were lured into serving in the Russian army have also been reported in other countries such as India, Egypt, Nepal, and Cuba. Russia, avoiding internal mobilization, seeks foreign recruits, filling the ranks of its army with migrants and students from other countries.
Bloomberg reported in June that African students and migrants are being forced to fight in Ukraine, under the threat of losing their visas if they do not agree to join the Russian military.
India won the freedom of its citizens – What next for Ghanaians?
In early September, Indian media reported the release of 45 Indians who had been drawn into Russian ranks. It was only after intervention from the Indian government that they were freed, which may be a glimmer of hope for Ghanaians and their families, who are now waiting for swift action in this dramatic matter.
