Did Ghana Force Putin To Back Down?

• 2.11.2026, 11:01

The Foreign Ministry of an African country issued a statement.

Putin promised to ban Ghanaian citizens from participating in the war against Ukraine. This was announced on Sunday, November 1, by Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzet Ablakwa, according to "Deutsche Welle".

According to him, Putin made this promise during a meeting with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama at the Kremlin following the third Russia–Africa Summit. “This ban applies to all circumstances of participation, whether through illegal recruitment or on one’s own initiative,” the minister said.

Earlier, an independent UN international commission investigating war crimes in Ukraine accused Russia of human trafficking for recruiting foreign mercenaries who were deceived and sent to the front lines. Dozens of men from at least 29 countries fell victim to this practice.

In February 2026, the publication “Important Stories” reported on a mercenary from Ghana Kelvin Ejire. He initially served in the Russian army and then began promoting contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense among his compatriots.

Authorities in African countries consider their citizens fighting in Ukraine to be victims of human trafficking. According to the latest data from the Ukrainian government, Russia has recruited more than 28,000 foreigners from 135 countries, and more than 5,000 of them have already been killed. At least 213 foreigners are being held captive in Ukraine, 37 of whom are citizens of African countries. The Kenyan government has asked Kyiv to recognize them as victims of human trafficking, since these men were lured into the war under false pretenses.

As Bloomberg reported, the daughter of former South African President Duduzila Zuma-Sambudla was involved in recruiting citizens of South Africa and Botswana. She assured them that they would be sent to bodyguard training courses so that they could work for her father’s party in the future.