The European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Rune Skinnebach, has questioned Russia’s credibility and reliability as a partner to Ghana, citing what he described as Moscow’s failure to deliver on a number of commitments to the country.
Speaking at Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day commemoration in Accra, Ambassador Skinnebach said Russia’s record on some bilateral commitments raised concerns about its reliability.
“Russia is neither reliable nor credible partner to Ghana. Two examples will suffice. First, the illegal recruitment of young Ghanaians to fight alongside Russian forces has gone on for far too long,” he stated.
He cited the alleged illegal recruitment of Ghanaians through employment opportunities, with some recruits reportedly ending up on the battlefield and being used as “cannon fodder” according to some reports as a classic example.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed in August that 62 Ghanaian nationals had been killed and 15 others remained missing after being ‘lured’ to Russia amid the war in Ukraine.
The issue was raised during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, where Russia pledged to work with Ghana to stop the recruitment of Ghanaians for the war.
The issue has also gained wider international attention. Amnesty International, in a September 10, 2026 briefing, disclosed that Russia had recruited thousands of foreign nationals, including people from low-income countries, using deceptive, coercive and exploitative practices, with some recruits allegedly lured by promises of civilian employment, high salaries, legal status or Russian citizenship before being sent to fight in Ukraine.
Skinnebach also cited the proposed Rosatom nuclear power project, the Russia Export Centre financing arrangement and a proposed investment in Ghana’s railway network as examples of commitments he said had not been fulfilled.
“The Rosatom nuclear project, the 1 billion Russia export centre facilities supposedly intended to support Ghanaian businesses, the 12.5 billion railway projects connecting Accra to Paga. I could go on. Promises are easy. Delivery is what counts. This is worth remembering when Russia presents itself as a champion of African interests,” he added.
The US$1 billion figure has its origins in a 2018 announcement that Russia had set aside funds to assist Russian companies seeking to invest in Ghana, with the money to be disbursed through the Russian Export Centre. The same account reported that Ghanaian companies seeking to do business with Russia would receive assistance through the Russian Embassy or the Ghana-Russia Business Development Council.
The US$12.5 billion railway figure also relates to an earlier proposal. A 2022 review of the project reported that Russian company Geo Services had expressed readiness to invest more than US$12.5 billion in the redevelopment of Ghana’s railway network.
The proposal emerged during discussions on the Eastern Railway Line and Boankra Inland Port, for which the Ghanaian government was then considering a public-private partnership and had estimated a requirement of about US$2.4 billion.
The proposed Rosatom project, meanwhile, remains at the cooperation and development stage. Ghana’s Atomic Energy Commission and Rosatom have signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy cooperation, while Russia’s Ambassador to Ghana, Andrei Ordash, said in July 2026 that the agreement provided a foundation for a potential nuclear power station involving Russian specialists and the training of Ghanaian personnel.
Skinnebach’s comments therefore come against the backdrop of continuing Ghana-Russia engagement, despite the disagreements over recruitment and the status of some proposed projects. Ghana and Russia have continued to discuss cooperation in trade, investment, education, energy and technology, while bilateral trade reportedly rose from US$247 million in 2022 to more than US$800 million in 2024.
The EU Ambassador also urged Ghana to work with what he described as “like-minded” countries in defending international law and the sovereignty of states, particularly against the use of force to alter internationally recognised borders.
He acknowledged Ghana’s longstanding commitment to non-alignment but stressed that the policy should not be interpreted as indifference to violations of international law.
“And let me stress one point, we respect Ghana’s position on non-alignment, but non-alignment does not equate indifference. We do not ask Ghana to join the camp, we ask Ghana and all like-minded partners to stand up for principles that protect every country, large or small,” he stated.
Skinnebach further called for continued international pressure for the return of Ukrainian children whom Ukraine and its international partners say have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred by Russia.
“Since Russia’s invasion in 2014, thousands of Ukrainian children have been unlawfully deported to Russia or forcibly transferred within territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia,” he said.
“These children are subjected to Russian patriotic and military-orientated education. Procedures have also been put in place to facilitate the granting of Russian citizenship. Think about what that means,” he added.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has independently documented the impact of Russia’s occupation on children, including the imposition of Russian citizenship and Russian school curricula in occupied territories. The UN has also documented the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children and barriers to their return.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has similarly condemned the forced deportation of Ukrainian children as part of the violations committed against Ukraine’s civilian population and has called for respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Skinnebach’s remarks add a new layer to the ongoing debate in Ghana over the depth and practical value of its relations with Russia, particularly as Accra seeks to protect its citizens while maintaining diplomatic and economic engagement with Moscow.
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