Ukraine grants Ghana access to prisoner of war ahead of February diplomatic visit
Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, has approved access for a Ghanaian diplomatic delegation to an unnamed Ghanaian national currently held in Ukrainian custody as a prisoner of war, following his capture on the frontline of the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict.
The individual was apprehended during active hostilities and is alleged by Ukrainian authorities to have been fighting as a mercenary alongside Russian forces, a designation that carries specific legal implications under international humanitarian law.
In a post on X, Minister Sybiha acknowledged Ghana’s formal request, submitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Kyiv, seeking consular access and the eventual return of the detained national. He said Ukraine’s response is guided by international law and the longstanding diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Sybiha further confirmed that he has formally invited Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to undertake a diplomatic visit to Ukraine in February 2026, during which full access to the prisoner of war will be granted to Ghanaian diplomats in line with international humanitarian standards.
“We have noted Ghana’s concerns and request for the return of a Ghanaian citizen who was captured in a combat zone as a Russian mercenary. I reiterate my invitation to Ghana’s Foreign Minister to visit Ukraine in February 2026,” Sybiha stated.
On the substantive issue of a possible release, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said Kyiv remains open to discussions with Ghana, stressing that any decision would be approached in good faith and diplomatic candour.
“Ghanaian diplomats will be granted access to prisoners of war upon their request, in accordance with international humanitarian law, and we stand ready to discuss this issue in a substantive manner,” he added.
Under the Third Geneva Convention of 1949, prisoners of war are entitled to humane treatment, protection from violence, and access to their country’s diplomatic representatives. While states may detain POWs until the cessation of active hostilities, international law allows for repatriation agreements, humanitarian releases, or diplomatic arrangements, particularly where third-country nationals are involved.
Ukraine has consistently maintained that foreign nationals captured while fighting for Russian forces are treated in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, even as Kyiv argues that participation as a mercenary does not grant combatant immunity under international law.
Responding to the development, Foreign Affairs Minister Ablakwa welcomed Ukraine’s decision, describing it as a demonstration of respect for diplomatic engagement and international legal norms. He reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of all Ghanaian citizens abroad, regardless of circumstance.
The development comes amid intensified fighting along eastern and southern fronts, as Ukraine continues to repel Russian advances while expanding diplomatic outreach to non-aligned and Global South countries. Kyiv has in recent months stepped up engagement with African states to clarify its position on the war and counter narratives surrounding foreign fighters.
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