Unexpected partner: Why Ghana is stepping in to support Ukraine

Ghana ready to finance drone production for Ukraine

On Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with his Ghanaian counterpart, John Dramani Mahama, and announced mutual interest in deepening bilateral cooperation.

According to Zelenskyy, the two leaders discussed collaboration in the agricultural sector, particularly the establishment of a food logistics hub in Ghana. They also agreed to arrange a ministerial-level meeting, with a Ukrainian delegation expected to visit the West African country in the near future.

However, the most attention-grabbing topic went beyond agriculture. President Zelenskyy noted that Ghana is interested in Ukrainian technologies, especially in the production of various types of drones, as well as in the combat experience Ukraine has gained in defending itself against Russian aggression.

"Ghana is ready to finance our production, and we are ready to help our partners secure their borders," Zelenskyy said, adding that he invited President Mahama to visit Ukraine, signaling that Ukraine may be gaining an unexpected ally.

Why Ghana is moving closer to Ukraine

Most African nations tend to remain neutral regarding the Russia-Ukraine war — or in some cases, openly side with the aggressor state. This is often explained by historical ties to Moscow or existing economic relationships.

However, Ghana stands apart from many other countries on the continent. First, it is one of Africa's most stable democracies with a growing economy. Second, it has been actively strengthening its international profile, especially in areas such as food security, digital development, and agribusiness.

This could work in Ukraine's favor if Ghana shifts from being a potential partner to a fully committed one. Even if Ghana's main objective is to assert itself as a regional leader and mediator in conflict resolution, its stance on Ukraine is clearly part of a broader strategy to boost its image on the global stage.

Has Ghana previously signaled support for Ukraine?

Surprisingly, yes, and partly due to its colonial past and long struggle for independence. While countries like the Central African Republic, Mali, Zimbabwe, and others with authoritarian regimes often lean toward Moscow (citing historical support from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), democratic Ghana draws a different parallel, linking its own history to Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression.

Since 2022, Ghana has consistently condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and affirmed its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Then-President Nana Akufo-Addo repeatedly addressed the issue publicly and stated during a speech at the UN General Assembly that Russia's war against Ukraine represented an attack on the entire rules-based international order.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Akufo-Addo during the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2024, where he encouraged Ghana to join the implementation of Ukraine's Peace Formula. At the time, discussions also included the idea of creating a logistics hub for Ukrainian agricultural exports to African nations. Now, it seems the relationship may expand into military cooperation.

What Ghana's support means for Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled nearly a year ago that Ukraine was ready to share military expertise and technology with African nations. In November, he announced the opening of 10 additional Ukrainian embassies across the continent and reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to global food security, despite Russia's efforts to block maritime exports.

"We are talking about bilateral relations with various African countries that are interested in this. We don't want to just stock up on food. We want to share technologies, processing methods, our skills in land cultivation, and we want to exchange experiences with your countries," Zelenskyy stated at the time.

At present, it remains unclear how much Ghana is willing to invest in Ukrainian drone production. Nonetheless, the move carries symbolic and strategic weight.

First, it demonstrates Ukraine's ability to expand its circle of allies beyond Europe and North America to include Africa. Second, it shows that even relatively smaller economies can contribute to Ukraine's fight for freedom, and potentially benefit in the long term through access to advanced technologies. Of course, that potential depends on whether Ghana's role becomes genuinely impactful or remains merely symbolic.

Sources: This article is based on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's post on social media platform X following his conversation with the President of Ghana, official materials from the website of the President of Ukraine, and publicly available information.

In April, President Zelenskyy paid a working visit to South Africa but was forced to return early due to a massive missile strike on Kyiv that destroyed a residential building and resulted in civilian casualties.

One of the key points of that visit was South Africa's potential participation in the international coalition focused on bringing back thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.