Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu calls on the government to urgently evacuate Ghanaian students studying in Ukraine.
According to him, the government must act quickly to prevent the loss of lives.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, February 24, 2022, the Minority Leader pointed out that given the security situation in the regions, immediate government intervention is needed to save Ghanaian students in the country.
"We should ensure the quick evacuation of Ghanaian students in Ukraine. We must do this to reassure the students and their parents that they are Ghanaians and that they deserve our support. This is a matter of urgent public importance. I ask you to take up the matter because the Secretary of the Treasury must make funds available to the Secretary of State. The situation in Ukraine is very worrying, there is a threat of war."
Following the rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia, the Ghanaian government has been urged to keep its citizens safe to avoid any unpleasant situations that may arise.
On Wednesday, the National Union of Ghanaian Students (NUGS) made a similar appeal to the government.
"As conflicts escalate in the regions, governments of countries across the world are prioritizing the evacuation of their citizens in the region to avoid harm to their citizens. Some students have currently fled the region, showing the growing insecurity and fear among students. Some of these students, including the Executive Board of the NUGS Section in Ukraine, have hit the ground running and have contacted the NUGS National Secretariat requesting urgent action to ensure the safety of their colleagues still in the regions."
Russian forces began attacking Ukraine early Thursday morning.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the military operation at dawn, despite calls from world leaders for de-escalation.
There were reports of explosions near major Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv.
The latest tensions stem from Russia's opposition to Ukraine's rapprochement with European institutions such as NATO and the EU.
Most Ghanaian students in Ukraine are staying in Kyiv and Kharkiv, the two cities most heavily targeted by Russian missiles.
Find shelter while we engage authorities
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is urging Ghanaians in Ukraine to find and stay in a safe place while it considers concrete steps to ensure their safety in that country.
A statement from the ministry said, "The Government of Ghana is very concerned about the safety of our over 1000 students and other Ghanaians in Ukraine."
It, therefore, asked them to remain safe "while we consult with the authorities, our relevant diplomatic missions and our Honorary Consul on further measures."