President Akufo-Addo has described African as the “greatest victim” of the Russian invasion in Ukraine outside Europe.
The President, speaking against hegemony of smaller states by powerful ones, implored Russia to and China to join the discussions seeking to end the war in Ukraine.
He made the remarks during his closing statement at Ukraine’s peace summit in Switzerland Sunday, June 16, 2024.
The President lamented how the war has decreased food security in poorer countries, highlighting the impact of the war on African economies.
“The consequences of the invasion go far beyond the confines of Europe. Indeed in many ways, Africa has been the greatest victim,” he said in his remarks.
“If we’re ever going to arrive at a definitive settlement,” he added.
Akufo-Addo said that Ghana opposes “great power hegemony and the bullying of small states by big powers. It is in this context that we view and continue to view Russia’s invasion and acts of aggression.”
A Kyiv Independent reporter on the ground had reported that eighty (80) countries, including Ukraine, and four European institutions signed the final joint communique of the Switzerland peace summit on June 16, 2024.
In all, over 100 countries and organizations were present at the summit.
The countries notably absent from the list of signatories include India, Armenia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Indonesia, Bahrain, Colombia, South Africa, Thailand, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates.
Beijing did not send representatives. Zelensky called on China to join in developing the peace proposals.
“China could help us,” Zelensky told reporters, adding that though it had close ties with the Kremlin, “Ukraine never said that China is our enemy. I always say that Ukraine has only one enemy: Putin.”
Throughout the full-scale invasion, sales of oil and other hydrocarbons to China and India have become the primary source of funds for Russia’s state budget and war effort.
War in Ukraine has had a terrible impact on African economies – Akufo-Addo
