The Russian Embassy in Ghana has accused Ukraine of spreading propaganda in the country through anti-recruitment billboards displayed in parts of Accra, arguing that the campaign is intended to damage Moscow’s reputation and undermine relations between Russia and Ghana.
In a statement issued on November 5, 2026, the Russian Embassy criticised the billboards bearing the messages “I Want to Live” and “I Want to Find”, which reportedly appeared in parts of the capital in late October.
The Embassy linked the campaign to the website StopRussianRecruiters.org, alleging that it was established and managed by Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War in collaboration with the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the Russian diplomatic mission, the initiative is not a genuine humanitarian campaign but rather an attempt by the Ukrainian government to influence public opinion in Ghana and portray Russia negatively.
The Embassy also rejected allegations that Russia was using deceptive methods to recruit Ghanaians and other African nationals into its armed forces.
It maintained that Moscow had never relied on fraudulent civilian employment offers or other misleading arrangements to attract foreign nationals into military service.
The Russian statement comes amid growing concerns about the involvement of African nationals, including Ghanaians, in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Ghanaian authorities have previously raised concerns over reports that some citizens travelled to Russia after allegedly being offered employment opportunities but later found themselves involved in the conflict.
The Russian Embassy also referred to the October 30, 2026 meeting between President John Dramani Mahama and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
According to the Embassy, assurances were given during the meeting that Ghanaian citizens would not serve in the Russian military under contractual arrangements.
It therefore described the continued display of the anti-recruitment billboards in Accra as provocative and potentially harmful to the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
The Russian mission further accused Ukraine of hypocrisy, citing advertisements reportedly published in Ghanaian media on October 8, 2026, which allegedly invited foreign nationals to apply for military positions within the Ukrainian armed forces.
The advertised positions reportedly included platoon commander and first-person-view drone operator.
The Embassy questioned why Ukraine would criticise Russia over the involvement of foreign nationals in the war while allegedly advertising military opportunities to people outside its borders.
It also cited information attributed to Russian security agencies claiming that more than 20,000 foreign nationals were fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. However, the figure has not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s concerns about citizens caught up in the conflict have continued to grow.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa previously disclosed that 62 Ghanaians had died and another 15 were missing after travelling to Russia and becoming involved in the war.
The situation has prompted renewed calls for greater public awareness about the risks associated with accepting overseas employment offers, particularly those that could lead to involvement in military activities.
Although the Russian Embassy strongly criticised Ukraine’s campaign, its allegations about the purpose of the billboards and the recruitment activities of both countries remain claims made by the Russian government.
The Embassy concluded by reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with Ghana, insisting that bilateral relations should continue to be guided by mutual respect, trust and cooperation.
The controversy has added another dimension to the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly as Ghana seeks to protect its citizens from being drawn into the conflict.
‼️Statement by the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Ghana following the appearance on the streets of Accra of billboards bearing the slogans ‘I want to live’ and ‘I want to find’, which were put up in late October 2026
Read full text: https://t.co/o9Aj0hfKFF https://t.co/Vp9auIh6tL
— Russian Embassy in Ghana (@RusEmbGhanaEng) November 5, 2026
Source: Thepressradio.com
