Government says it has begun engagements with neighbouring countries of Ukraine to facilitate the immediate evacuation of Ghanaians in the country.

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, a list of students caught up in the conflict has been compiled to facilitate the exercise, adding that plans are far advanced to evacuate them.

A statement dated Friday, February 25 said the Ministry, through its Mission in Berne, Switzerland and the Honorary Consulate in Ukraine, is in touch with the Ghanaian students in Ukraine through their leaders

“Following the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, it had become challenging to airlift our compatriots from Kyiv and other parts of the country. Hence, the only viable means of evacuation is by land to neighbouring countries such as Moldova, Belarus, Slovakia and Hungary.”

“Discussions with the authorities in Switzerland, Turkey, Moldova, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia to assist with the smooth evacuation of Ghanaians in Ukraine are far advanced,” it said.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry also noted that the relevant Ghanaian diplomatic missions and Honorary Consuls are on standby to facilitate the passage of students who had already commenced their journey by road to Romania and Hungary.

“The Government has put in place the necessary package to facilitate the transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical support etc., to ease the burden on our compatriots.

“As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration continues to engage with other stakeholders such as the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, the Security Services and other State Institutions, we urge our compatriots to remain calm as measures are finalised for their imminent safe evacuation.”