Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel O. Ablakwa has disclosed that at least 272 Ghanaians have been lured into fighting in the Ukraine war since 2022, with 55 confirmed dead and two currently held as prisoners of war, according to intelligence shared by Ukrainian authorities.

The revelation came during the minister’s official visit to Kyiv, where he held bilateral talks with Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Ablakwa expressed appreciation for the hospitality and noted progress in strengthening relations between Ghana and Ukraine.

As part of the visit, both ministers laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance in honour of victims of the conflict.

During engagements and a media briefing, Ukrainian officials reportedly presented intelligence indicating that 1,780 Africans from 36 countries have been recruited through criminal trafficking networks to fight in the war against Ukraine.

Of that number, 272 are believed to be Ghanaians, making Ghana one of the hardest-hit countries.

Describing the figures as heartbreaking, Ablakwa stressed that the statistics represent real lives and families, not mere numbers.

He said the government cannot ignore the situation and will intensify public education campaigns to warn young people about the dangers of illegal recruitment schemes.

He added that the administration is committed to tracking and dismantling dark web and underground networks that lure vulnerable youth with promises of money and opportunities abroad.

The minister emphasised that the conflict is not Ghana’s war and cautioned against allowing citizens to be exploited.

According to him, two captured Ghanaians he met during the visit shared sobering accounts of the risks involved and urged others not to be enticed into similar arrangements.

Government officials say awareness and prevention efforts will be stepped up nationwide to protect Ghanaian youth from falling victim to such schemes.