The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is urging Ghanaians in Ukraine to find a place of safety and stay there as it considers concrete steps to ensure their safety in that country.

The ministry’s statement comes after news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

In the statement, it said, “The Government of Ghana is gravely concerned about the security and safety of our over 1000 students and other Ghanaians in Ukraine.”

It thus asked them to stay safe “as we engage the authorities, our relevant diplomatic missions and our honorary consul on further measures”.

Ghanaian students in Ukraine have called on the government to initiative steps to ensure their safety, including considering an evacuation of the over 1000 Ghanaians in the country amidst the tension in Ukraine.

The National Union of Ghanaian Students (NUGS) had already called on the government to ensure the safety of Ghanaian students studying in Ukraine and Russia following the disturbances in the region.

A statement from NUGS said: “As conflicts escalate within the regions, governments of countries across the world are prioritizing the evacuation of their citizens across the area to forestall harm on their citizens. Some students have currently fled the region, showing growing insecurity and fear amongst students. Some of these students including the Executives of NUGS chapter in Ukraine have touched down and have reached out to the National Secretariat of NUGS advising that urgent steps be taken to ensure the safety of their colleagues still in the regions. ”