The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has warned the government’s obligations towards Ghanaian students that refuse the offer to be assisted to return home will cease after they have been provided with 2 nights’ hotel accommodation.
According to the Ministry, the Government will only bear the cost of two-nights hotel accommodation for all those who are received by Embassy staff and representatives and lodged in hotels in the countries neighbouring Ukraine and other European countries.
Such students, it said, will also be provided with air tickets to Ghana and have their COVID-19 tests paid for.
The Ministry disclosed that 88 Ghanaian students from Romania, Hungary and Poland have been received as part of the evacuation of nationals from Ukraine and bringing the total number of evacuees to 181 as of 12:00pm on 8th March, 2022.
The Foreign Ministry, in a release, expressed concern at the refusal of some students to show up at the airport after they have expressed their willingness to be evacuated.
This, the Ministry said, has resulted in the government purchasing air tickets that remain unused as well as paying for COVID-19 tests for persons with no intention of travelling.
“The government is therefore entreating only Ghanaians who are willing to be evacuated to confirm their participation so as to avoid the dissipation of scarce public funds,” the release said.
The Ministry disclosed it has received reliable information about 70% of Ghanaian compatriots who were stranded in Sumy close to the Russian border have commenced their journey to Myrhorod where they will be transported to the western border cities for onward transfer to neighbouring countries.
The Ministry expressed profound gratitude to the various National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) within the region, the Church of Pentecost and other religious bodies, foreign governments, humanitarian organizations and individuals that have made the evacuation of nationals possible.
