Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, has called for the swift evacuation of Ghanaian students in Ukraine following the growing tension between Ukraine and Russia.
According to him, it is a matter of concern even on the global front and government must put in effort to evacuate Ghanaians living in both countries. Mr Suhuyini explained that due to the “threatening” posture of Russian President, Vladmir Putin, things are quite tensed in the region and government must work on how to evacuate citizens at this point.
“I don’t agree that it is too early for us to begin to consider evacuation. Evacuation is not just an event; it’s going to take a whole lot of processes for that to happen. So, we must begin doing that now, especially when we are told that communication lines are being cut off [and] food supplies will soon become a challenge. So, I think we must begin to put the structures in place to ensure that they [students] are evacuated from Ukraine as soon as possible and even possibly Russia. Because as we speak, Russia too is not safe when you consider how the other European countries are coming together and we are told that Biden will address the world later today”.
His comments followed NUGS appeal to Government to immediately take steps to evacuate Ghanaian Students from Ukraine and Russia following the declaration of a state of emergency by the Ukrainian Parliament and Russia’s “annexation” of Eastern Province of Ukraine.
On his part, Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi, MP for Anyaa-Sowutuom, described the Ukraine-Russia issue as very “unfortunate”. He revealed that the issue between the two countries narrows down on the need for countries to be strengthened both militarily and economically.
“I am sure that if Ukraine had that, considering what they did for places like Germany, we would have been at a better place. I am happy that the European countries are marshalling forces to help Ukraine and I think it’s appropriate”.
Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi
Too early to evacuate students
Commenting on the impact of the tension on Ghanaian students living in the two countries, Mr Kissi indicated that the time isn’t right for students to be evacuated. He expressed that if there is the need for evacuation, it can be undertaken when “other nations probably start”. Mr Kissi intimated that the responsibility and questions on evacuation of Ghanaians need to be directed to the Foreign Affairs Ministry to find out what steps they are taking to ensure the safety of Ghanaians living in Ukraine and Russia.
“Now, with regards to our students coming back, at this point, I think it might be a bit too early and I think we should hang in there and see what the world authorities do”.
Prior to this, the General Secretary of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Julius Kwame Anthony, bemoaned the plight and anxiety of Ghanaian students living in Ukraine and government’s seeming disinterest in the matter. He revealed that per corresponding with students, embassies in other countries have started making arrangement to ensure the evacuation of their students from Ukraine, a move which is yet to take place in the country.
“I think we’ve waited for too long given the fact that there has been no directive to Ghanaian students and for even Ghanaians in general in Ukraine as to what our missions is to do over there; whether there will be flights available for them to even make payments…”
Julius Kwame Anthony
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