On Wednesday, February 25, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed his Ghanaian colleague Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to Kyiv, who made a historic, first-ever visit by a Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana to Ukraine. It was also the first separate visit by an African Foreign Minister to our country since the full-scale invasion.
The heads of the Foreign Ministries held extensive talks on a wide range of issues of bilateral relations, in particular in the field of political dialogue, economic cooperation, interaction in international organizations, and also discussed humanitarian issues. Special attention was paid to the development of trade, agricultural partnership, and cooperation in the field of education, security and defense industries.
Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Ukraine considers the Republic of Ghana as an important partner in West Africa and the African continent as a whole.
The Foreign Ministers agreed to intensify political contacts at all levels, as well as to expand the contractual and legal basis of bilateral relations.
“Ukraine is ready to remain a reliable supplier of agricultural products and at the same time is interested in joint projects with added value, in particular in the field of processing and logistics,” the Foreign Minister noted.
The diplomats thoroughly discussed the prospects for cooperation in the implementation of Ukrainian and Ghanaian humanitarian initiatives aimed at strengthening global food stability. The Foreign Minister of Ukraine also reiterated the readiness of the Ukrainian side to work on opening a food grain hub in Ghana, especially given the important role of this country for the food security of the region.
The Foreign Ministers paid close attention to the problem of Russia’s recruitment of citizens of African states to participate in the war against Ukraine.
“Separately and frankly, we discussed the issue of returning to the Republic of Ghana prisoners of war who were captured by the defenders of Ukraine,” Andrii Sybiha noted, emphasizing that Ukraine strictly adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law, in particular the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
The Minister added that Ukraine informed the Ghanaian side about the conditions of detention of prisoners of war and the relevant legal procedures. The Heads of Ministries of Foreign Affairs agreed to maintain constant contact on this issue through diplomatic channels.
“Ukraine confirmed its readiness to cooperate in resolving this issue in accordance with international law and in coordination with the competent authorities of Ukraine,” the Foreign Minister emphasized.
At the same time, Andrii Sybiha called on the Ghanaian side to take more active public measures to prevent cases of recruitment of citizens of African countries into the Russian occupation army.
“The Russians are dragging Ghanaians to death, but Ukraine is offering cooperation for the sake of life, for opportunities in education and mutually beneficial projects,” the Ukrainian Foreign Minister emphasized.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted Ghana’s principled stand on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as consistent support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, in particular Ghana’s vote for the UN General Assembly resolution of February 24, 2026 “Support for lasting peace in Ukraine”.
“Ukraine highly appreciates today’s open and constructive dialogue. We are convinced that the Ukrainian-Ghanaian partnership has significant potential - both at the bilateral level and in the broader international dimension. Next year, Ghana will chair the African Union, so today we also discussed the priorities of the future Ghanaian chairmanship,” Andrii Sybiha stressed.