Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has agreed to grant safe passage to all Ghanaian students and those from other African countries trapped in Ukraine. The Hungarian Government has also agreed to take in Ghanaian students studying in Ukraine who are ready to transfer to Hungary and provide them with assistance.
These new developments were revealed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong when he met the second batch of Ghanaian Students evacuated from Ukraine at the Kotoka International Airport. Our Correspondent Nathaniel Nartey who was at the Airport, reports that the “returnees” expressed gratitude to the Government for the promise to offer them psychological assistance, as some of them are experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, PTSD.
About 24 Ghanaian students have been evacuated from Ukraine constituting the second batch of returnees from the war-torn country, who were able to cross the border to safety in Poland. Eight of the students paid for their tickets while the government covered the bills for the rest. The returnees, mostly young female students, were visibly emotional with some in tears as the Deputy Minister addressed all 16 of them including a teenager. All but the leader among them had their shoulders dropped and heads down before and during the Deputy Minister’s speech. Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong outlined some positive developments with words of hope to the students.
”After lobbying the Russian President through the EU and AU, President Putin has finally come out to say that they are going to open a safe passage for our students caught up in those areas and that starts immediately.
He said “the government of Hungary has agreed to take those of you who will be prepared to transfered to Hungary to continue your education there and they are prepared to match whatever facilities and financial assistance so there is a window of opportunity”, he noted.
Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong said plans are being put in place to provide psychological assistance to the students. Leader of the students, Amobi Adu-Gyamfi shared her experience and expressed gratitude to the government for the assistance.
”We thank the government because everything was free for us, we were even surprised and we also like to thank them for giving us a Psychologist because we are almost experiencing PTSD. People were racist to us and it was really bad”, she narrated.
More Ghanaian students are expected to arrive in subsequent days.