NPP youth to help raise funds for Ghanaian students in Ukraine

The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has disclosed that measures have been put in place by the party’s youth wing to partner its United Kingdom branch to raise funds in support of Ghanaian students in Ukraine.

“Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the subsequent evacuation of Ghanaian students to neighbouring countries, the NPP National Youth wing, working with its youth wing in the UK, led by Richard Gyamfi, is raising funds to complement the timely and all-encompassing support being offered by government of Ghana to the affected Ghanaian students,” Nana Boakye said in a news release.

He said about 700 Ghanaian students had fled Ukraine so far and reports were that some would want to, with the support of Government of Ghana, continue their education in countries like Hungary.

“Albeit a dozen of such students have returned to Ghana a few days ago, as a youth wing that have strong working ties with Ghanaian students abroad, we deem it obligatory to offer our widow’s mite to cushion the victims in these trying times,” Mr Boakye stated.

He added: “It is on this premise that we intend using the NPP-UK Branch’s Youth Forum 2022 event, scheduled for March 12, 2020 in UK, to raise funds to support our compatriots”.

He indicated that the charity event would be attended by the 2nd Lady, Mrs Samira Bawumia, and a host of government officials.

He commended the government and its foreign missions for their timely intervention and overarching support “to our compatriots who have been at the receiving end of the Russia-Ukraine war”.

“These are extremely unusual and challenging times coming on the back of a devastating pandemic and global economic crisis. However, we shall overcome it collectively,” he stated.

Ghanaian nationals home

Government has been undertaking a number of processes in partnership with diplomatic missions, honorary consuls and stakeholders to get all Ghanaian nationals evacuated to safer zones.

On Friday March 4, 2022, an additional 24 Ghanaian students, who fled Ukraine through Romania and Poland as a result of Russian attack on Ukraine, arrived in Accra. Earlier, the first batch of 16 students arrived in Accra on Tuesday March 1, 2022. They came via Qatar Airways.

They were met and welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong.

While addressing the students, the Deputy Minister said: “I want to welcome you back home to Ghana on behalf of the President. I know you’ve been through a very traumatic and difficult situation, but thanks be to God that you’re home today. All Ghanaians share in your plight. It is our hope that in good time you will pull yourself together and go back to further your studies.”

The Deputy Minister also disclosed that the government had successfully had talks with the Russian government, through the EU and AU, to allow free passage of Ghanaians caught up in Sumy, Kharkiv, and the other areas immediately.

The government has promised to evacuate every Ghanaian willing to return home.