A viral video circulating on social media has purportedly identified a Ghanaian among dozens of foreign fighters captured by Ukrainian forces amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The footage shows a group of men dressed in what appear to be Russian military uniforms being questioned after their capture. During the interrogation, each detainee is asked to state their name, age and country of origin.
One of the men identifies himself as Ayuba Yussif, a 30-year-old from Ghana.
The video also features several other foreign nationals, including three Kenyans identified as 32-year-old Peter Jenga, 28-year-old Mutayi Felix and 36-year-old Martin.
The emergence of the footage has renewed concerns over the recruitment of African nationals into the conflict through deceptive employment schemes.
Reports indicate that many Ghanaians and other Africans are enticed to Russia with promises of lucrative jobs but are later coerced or misled into signing military contracts and deployed to fight alongside Russian forces.
The Government of Ghana has previously disclosed that at least 272 Ghanaians have been recruited into the Russia-Ukraine war since 2022 through what it describes as fraudulent recruitment arrangements.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, revealed that 55 Ghanaians have reportedly died in the conflict, while two others remain prisoners of war.
According to the minister, many of the victims fell prey to criminal trafficking networks that exploited their employment search abroad.
He said the government is investigating suspected recruitment syndicates operating in Ghana and has intensified efforts to dismantle the networks that send citizens into the war under false pretences.
Ablakwa also disclosed that Ghana is engaging Ukrainian authorities regarding the two captured Ghanaians while urging citizens to exercise extreme caution when considering overseas job opportunities that appear too good to be true.
