During a rare visit to Kyiv, the Ghanaian foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, urged the Ukrainian authorities to release two Ghanaian prisoners of war who had fought alongside Russian troops against Ukraine. This appeal underscores the complex dynamics of foreign involvement in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, particularly focusing on African citizens caught in the crossfire.

Ablakwa's discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted concerns about Russia's recruitment of African nationals, including Ghanaians, to participate in the war. Zelensky expressed the need to address these recruitment strategies and emphasized discussions on how to counter this trend, revealing concerns not only about the prisoners' situation but also the larger implications of African nations being drawn into the conflict.

The Ghanaian minister expressed hope that President Zelensky would demonstrate "magnanimity and compassion" in his approach to the prisoners' release, reflecting his commitment to protecting Ghanaian citizens abroad. However, Zelensky's omission of the prisoners in his public statements suggests complexities in the negotiations and the need for careful diplomacy in the ongoing geopolitical crisis.