The first batch of Ghanaian nationals who have been evacuated amid the conflict in Ukraine have arrived in Ghana.
The batch of seventeen (17) evacuees who are mostly students touched down at the Kotoka International Airport Tuesday morning.
They are expected to return home in the coming days.
Some of the students who arrived in the capital, Accra recounted the struggles they encountered before arriving in the country.
“We got to the border at 6:00 pm on Friday. It took 12 hours to cross the border amid fighting with Ukrainians. The boys had it so badly. The women also struggled, but it was tougher for the men,” a student said.
Meanwhile the Deputy Minister for the Ministry, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong has touted government’s role in airlifting the students into the country.
According to him, Ghana is the first country to have successfully evacuated some citizens in the midst of the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine.
“The government is determined to make sure that your colleagues who want to be evacuated are evacuated. Information coming in is that Ghana is the first country that has evacuated her compatriots. Ghana is doing its best to encourage Russia to stop the attack and atrocities on the citizens of Ukraine,” he told the evacuees.
The total number of Ghanaians living in Ukraine is unknown.
Government is currently meeting parents and guardians to document all students in the country.
It is estimated that more than 1,000 Ghanaian nationals are currently studying or working in Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine early on Thursday morning.
Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, announced the military operation at dawn despite calls for de-escalation from world leaders.
There have been reports of explosions near major Ukrainian cities, including its capital, Kyiv.
Recent tensions have stemmed from Russia’s opposition to Ukraine’s moves towards European institutions like Nato and the EU.
