The Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has advised Ghanaian students pursuing their education abroad to join associations for easy identification during crisis.

According to her, many students fail to join student groups during their study abroad, a development she has blamed for the difficulty government is facing in generating comprehensive data on students in Ukraine.

Speaking at a press briefing on the security situation in Ukraine, Sunday, she brushed off assertions suggesting government has not been proactive enough in getting the affected citizens evacuated to safer zones.

“Many students go outside the country to study and they do not even bother to be part of any group, any association or to register with our missions. Any citizen of Ghana who leaves the shores of Ghana must register. So that when there is a situation like this, immediately, you can be reached and you can be accounted for. Unfortunately, they don’t.”

“Many of them didn’t even bother,” she stressed.

She disclosed that her outfit worked with student associations to reach out to stranded Ghanaians to help them get to safer zones.

“Otherwise, it is difficult. And we keep saying this over and over again and nobody pays any heed to it,” she stressed.

She also revealed that over 220 Ghanaians in Ukraine have safely exited the country as of midday on Sunday, February 27.

She said this was achieved through a number of collaborative efforts the government made with its diplomatic partners, missions, and consulates.

“We hope for better days as the Ministry further engages our diplomatic Missions and Honorary Consulates to extend consular assistance to our compatriots. We are earnestly facilitating the safe return of a lot more,” she assured.