Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Apratwum-Sarpong, has revealed that Ghana is first African country to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine following the conflict with Russia.
This makes the government of President Akufo-Addo the first among all African governments in the effort to rescue their nationals, he stressed.
Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong said this when he welcomed the first batch of Ghanaian nationals who arrived from Ukraine at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Tuesday March 1.
He said “The Government is determined to continue to make sure that your colleagues who are still in transit to be evacuated will eventually be evacuated. There is one important thing that we need to know, information coming in indicates that Ghana is the first African country to have been able to evacuate some of their compatriots and some of their students from Ukraine. So at least, if not for anything at all, the government of Nana Akufo-Addo has scored first,” he said.
He added “My fellow compatriots, on behalf of the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Government and People of Ghana, I heartily welcome you all back home. We thank the Almighty God for keeping you safe and for granting you traveling mercies.
“My dear students, we are proud of you for the bravery and perseverance you exhibited in the face of the dire situation you found yourselves in. You have had to halt your studies and other activities in order to escape the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Some of your colleagues are yet to be evacuated from Ukraine. Let me assure you that the Government of Ghana will continue to work to ensure their safety and return to Ghana. Government will also continue to work with its International Partners to ensure that and urge for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine for a peaceful and quick resolution of this conflict.
“I would like to commend your various Student leaders for cooperating with Government to ensure a smooth and successful evacuation exercise thus far.
“You are the first batch of Ghanaians to have arrived from Ukraine. As at 28th February 2022, 527 Ghanaians had crossed the Ukrainian border into neighbouring countries of Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia. In the coming days, we are expecting more of your colleagues to be evacuated from these countries. We are working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Organization and we are confident that this will enhance the success of the evacuation exercise.
“The Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional integration is scheduled to meet parents and guardians of affected students later this morning to discuss issues concerning the evacuation and return of their loved ones.
“I wish to reiterate that Government has put in place the necessary package to facilitate the transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical support, etc to ease any burden on our compatriots who are still waiting to be evacuated and we urge all of them to take advantage of this exercise to come home. On this note, I will like to welcome you once again. Enjoy your time with your families.”
