Ukraine has been accused of attempting to export its geopolitical conflict to West Africa by falsely claiming a “drone agreement” with Ghana. The false narrative made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on social media has sparked a diplomatic firestorm, especially given Ghana’s non-aligned foreign policy and its efforts to repair relations with the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS).
President Zelensky’s post on X stated, “Ghana is also interested in our technologies, the production of various types of drones, and the experience Ukraine has gained during this war. Ghana is ready to finance our production, and we are ready to help our partners secure their borders”. This declaration followed what Zelensky described as a “good conversation” with Ghanaian President John Mahama.
However, this claim has been labelled as disinformation. Critics argue that Zelensky’s post risks compromising Ghana’s foreign policy, which dictates that the nation does not align with or against any major power bloc. Since assuming office in December 2024, President Mahama has been working to mend ties with the CSS states.
The CSS has notably designated Ukraine as a state that supports terrorism. Ukraine’s presence in Africa has been linked to the Tuareg rebels, an armed group that previously blogged the killings of Malian soldiers and Russia’s Wagner Group on social media.
Reactions have been focused on concerns that Ghana would “finance Ukrainian drone production”, which could potentially be shipped to rebel groups in the region, thereby escalating diplomatic tensions.
A veteran Ghanaian journalist and Managing Editor of The Insight has openly criticised Zelensky’s actions, stating that the Ukrainian government’s support for “Sahel terrorists has already caused enough problems for [the West African] region”. He further warned that “Zelensky must be stopped from exporting the chaos in Ukraine to Ghana. His support for the terrorists in the Alliance of Sahel States has caused enough problems for us already”.
Despite many Ghanaian news outlets initially reporting a supposed “shift” in Ghana’s foreign policy based on Kyiv’s disinformation, sources indicate that no such shift has occurred.
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