The man, whose identity the family has withheld for safety reasons, left Ghana more than a year ago. His last communication, in February 2025, indicated he was undertaking “two weeks of military training”. Since then, all contact has ceased.
The family told Channel Africa on Tuesday that attempts to reach him on both his Ghanaian and Russian phone numbers have been unsuccessful, with automated messages stating the numbers “do not exist”. They believe he travelled from Ghana to Qatar before ultimately moving on to Russia.
“We have not heard from him for a year. We don’t know if he is alive or gone,” said his brother, Zakari Yakubu. “He was the one feeding the whole family. We are pleading with the government and with Russia to tell us what has happened to him.”
Yakubu said the family has received no support or information from authorities. “We are crying. We are begging President Putin to help us. We don’t know if our brother is missing, arrested or dead.”
For insight into how foreign nationals end up in foreign conflicts, Channel Africa spoke to Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso, a Researcher in international political economy, security and terrorism. He said economic hardship, misinformation and recruitment networks play a significant role.
“Since the days of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, there has been systematic recruitment from African countries,” he explained. “Messages promise lucrative salaries, compensation for families and even religious rewards. Some people are lured by fake job adverts, thinking they will work in the Gulf, only to realise later they have been handed guns in a war zone.”
Danso said both Russia and Ukraine have seen an increase in visa applications from Ghanaian nationals since the start of the war. He warned that foreign fighters often fall outside traditional protections of international law and may face serious consequences if captured.
He urged African governments to improve human security at home and raise awareness about recruitment scams. “If people’s economic and social rights are secure, they are less likely to risk their lives in foreign wars.”
The family says their only hope now is for authorities in both countries to intervene: “If he is alive, we thank Allah. If he is gone, we thank Allah. We just need to know.”
–ChannelAfrica–
