President Akufo-Addo is saying that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and shelling of cities in Ukraine is not only affecting the Ukrainians but it is also hitting the pockets of Ghanaians.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been underway since late February. President Vladimir Putin’s forces have bombed residential areas and civilian infrastructure and struck as far west as a military training base near the Polish border.
Delivering the 2022 State of the Nation address in Parliament on Wednesday (30 March), the president said the terrible events in Ukraine have a direct impact on our lives here in Ghana. Thirty per cent (30%) of our wheat flour and fertilizer imports come from Russia
“The bombs might be dropping on cities half a world away but they are hitting our pockets here in Ghana
Even so, we have managed to ensure that fuel supplies have not been disrupted, unlike in several other parts of the world
We, in Ghana, have not escaped this development, and the consequences are being felt in rising living costs at our markets and at fuel stations,” the president added.
This sessional Address, which is pursuant to Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, was postponed because the President was unable to deliver it on March 3.
However, Russian forces are shelling nearly all cities along the front line separating Ukrainian government-controlled territory from areas held by Russian-backed separatists in the eastern Donetsk region, the regional governor said, and heavy fighting was reported in the southern port city of Mariupol.
Ukraine has launched counteroffensives in the capital, Kyiv, and other cities and towns. Russian attacks on population centers and efforts to encircle Kyiv have driven more than 3½ million people out of Ukraine but the invading forces failed to take control of any major Ukrainian city. Moscow is now refocusing its efforts on expanding control of Russian-speaking areas toward the east of the country.
