THE Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has held talks with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, over the release of two Ghanaians being held in a Ukrainian prison.

In a post on his Facebook page yesterday, the North Tongu MP described the meeting as “fruitful”, expressing the optimism that “we shall be successful in our negotiations”.

Mr Ablakwa is in the European country to secure the release of the two men, Kwesi and Kwabena – (not their real names) – who were captured by Ukrainian Forces last year in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“Our bilateral talks explored how our two countries can effectively combat the threat posed by trafficking networks who lure vulnerable unsuspecting youth from Africa only to end up risking their lives in the ongoing war,” he stated.

“I have conveyed the gratitude of President Mahama and the Government of Ghana to President Zelenskyy for ensuring that the rights of our citizens being held are protected as required under international law,” Mr Ablakwa wrote.

In a later meeting with the two hostages, they appealed to Presidents John Dramani Mahama and Zelenskyy for clemency, admitting that their ill-advised decision has embarrassed Ghana.

“We are very sorry for what we did. We ask President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ukraine and their government to forgive us and spare us.

“We know people all over the world know Ghana as a peaceful country with peace-loving people, but we have stained that status. We are not proud of what we did and we ask Ghanaians and Ukrainians for forgiveness,” Kofi pleaded.

For Kwasi, if released, they would turn over a new leaf and be ambassadors against war, warning Ghanaian youth against being hired to fight in wars.

He said his decision to join the Russian forces was financially induced as it was difficult paying his university fees in 2024.

Having been promised 1.9 million Russian roubles as a sign-on fee and a monthly salary of 200,000 roubles, Kwesi disclosed that he accepted the offer of a fire rescue officer, but was deployed to the frontline against his wish.

Kwesi noted that he had no option but to flee the Russian camp and surrender himself to the Ukrainian soldiers after witnessing several of his colleagues killed on the forefront of the four-year-old war.

He disclosed that at the time of his training, 10 Ghanaians had been recruited by an agent who promised them decent jobs.

According to the two Ghanaian prisoners of war, also held in the camp were citizens from Nigeria, Egypt, Burundi, Algeria, Morocco, and Uganda, among others.

On his part, Mr Ablakwa assured the captives that the government of Ghana was determined to secure their release, extending to them President Mahama’s forgiveness.

“President Mahama says I should tell you that he has forgiven you. The people of Ghana have also forgiven you. We’re committed to working with the Ukrainian officials for your release. We have discussed that with President Zelenskyy, but we still have some paperwork to do.

“We hope and pray that we can secure your release soon to commence your rehabilitation and reintegration and to also become ambassadors for peace and advocating against the criminal networks recruiting vulnerable young people to fight in this war,” he explained.