The families of the 14 Ghanaian migrants caught up in the Russia-Ukraine War have said that the Ghana Police Service told them it cannot, for now, do anything to help bring their loved ones back into the country.

One of the relatives of the 14 men trapped in the Russia-Ukraine War, Gideon Sarfo, speaking in an interview with TV3 from the Police Headquarters, said that the police told them they could not take any action which would lead to the rescue of their relatives until the man they accused of deceiving their relatives to travel to Russia, One Man Supporter, returns to Ghana.

He said that they were to meet One Man Supporter at the Police Headquarters, but upon arriving, the police told them that he (the accused person) was in Togo making arrangements to travel to Russia.

He urged the government to use diplomatic means to bring their relatives back, adding that the state can take action against One Man Supporter after they are rescued.

“Unfortunately, we were pressing that we wanted to meet One Man Supporter and the leaders so that we would know the truth. But unfortunately, our brother did not allow us to go and see One Man Supporter, he wanted to do it himself.

“In fact, we don’t know what to do, we need help. We need the help of the government of Ghana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the military, the police, we need their help. Even if they don’t arrest One Man Supporter, they should talk to the embassy so that at least they would bring the people back. Once the people are back then we can deal with One Man Supporter,” Sarfo said.

He added, “For now, the CID is saying that we have to wait for One Man Supporter to come. We can’t wait while they are there. They should just talk to the Russian Embassy in Ghana so they (the trapped men) are brought back. When they come, then we would deal with One Man Supporter. But the police are saying that we should wait for One Man Supporter to come… the police also said that One Man Supporter is in Togo and that he says he wants to go to Russia to bring them back.”

The other relatives of the 14 men also urged the government of Ghana to engage the Russian government through their embassy so their relatives can be rescued.

The 14 young men left Ghana for Russia through Togo on Sunday, August 4, 2024, on a journey they believed would turn their lives around and enable them to take good care of their families left behind in Ghana.

They had been lured by promises of securing a well-paid job in Russia, but hopes of building a better future immediately faded after they were confronted with the reality on the ground upon their arrival in Russia on August 6.

Soon after their arrival, they were transported to a city known as Kostroma to sign what they thought was an employment contract. However, to their utter shock, it turned out to be an agreement for recruitment into the Russian Army to fight against Ukraine.

The young men had been allegedly deceived by a contractor, Abraham Boakye, popularly known in Ghana's football circles as One Man Supporter, whom they trusted.

BAI/AE

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