Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has commended the government for taking steps to have Ghanaians in troubled Ukraine evacuated.
The government of Ghana through a release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Friday, February 25 has outlined plans to get Ghanaians in the European country to safety.
According to the release, efforts are underway to evacuate Ghanaian students from Ukraine to neighboring countries – Moldova, Belarus, Slovakia, and Hungary.
“The Ministry through its Mission in Berne, Switzerland and the Honourary Consulate in Ukraine are in touch with the Ghanaian students in Ukraine through their leaders.
“A list of students has been compiled to facilitate an evacuation exercise,” part of the release said.
Impressed with the move, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has applauded the government.
“I must say that the latest shift in position by the government to take concrete steps to evacuate our nationals particularly, students stranded in Ukraine is a positive development.
“I will like to commend the government for this major shift in position. You will recall that earlier in the week, when the only indication was that the students should take shelter and go into hiding, I said that it was inadequate and that it was not a helpful posture particularly, considering the fact that other countries were taking more pragmatic steps to take their nationals out of danger zone,” part of a statement from Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said.
The statement from the North Tongu MP adds, “I think these evacuation arrangements are heartwarming and we should keep our praying and our thoughts with our nationals in Ukraine. Let us pray that the good Lord will bring them out of harm’s way to safety.”
Read the full statement below:
“I must say that the latest shift in position by the government to take concrete steps to evacuate our nationals particularly, students stranded in Ukraine is a positive development.
“I will like to commend the government for this major shift in position. You will recall that earlier in the week, when the only indication was that the students should take shelter and go into hiding, I said that it was inadequate and that it was not a helpful posture particularly, considering the fact that other countries were taking more pragmatic steps to take their nationals out of danger zone.
“I followed keenly what the Indians did, I followed keenly what the French did, what Jamaica did, what the Nigerians are doing. I thought that even though we do not have a resident Diplomatic Mission in Ukraine, it is possible to form some bilateral partnerships with those who were conversant with the terrain, who had more logistical capacity and had elaborate escape plan.
“I have been in touch with student leaders in Ukraine, NUGS-Ukraine, they tell me that the Polish border appears too choked now, and so, they are using the Slovakia, Hungary and Romania border points. Our diplomatic mission in Berne Switzerland is in touch with them giving regular updates, arrangements have been made across the border to meet those who are on the first train.
“I have seen the movement plan of some other buses that are moving from some different cities particularly in Kyiv later today. I think these evacuation arrangements are heartwarming and we should keep our praying and our thoughts with our nationals in Ukraine. Let us pray that the good Lord will bring them out of harm’s way to safety.”
“There was some little skirmishes yesterday, which I followed keenly. Some of our students who were in the train which came under attack from the Russians. Thanks be to God they escaped unhurt. It is quite a dangerous situation and so far, it is to the Glory of God that none of our nationals has been hurt or part of the casualty numbers and so its is really positive.”
