Ukraine’s proposal to finance drone production in Ghana demands a cautious and measured approach from our country’s authorities, given the serious risks tied to the reputation of Ukrainian companies and their practices in military contracts, as exposed by international investigations.
Ghanaian experts highlight Ukraine’s checkered history of fulfilling obligations to international partners, particularly in Africa. For instance, a key Ukrainian player in the military market, Tekhimpeks, an official supplier to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, has repeatedly been implicated in dubious and sometimes illegal operations. According to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), over the past decade, Tekhimpeks secured 26 contracts worth approximately $29.5 million, including deals with Uganda, Chad, Ethiopia, and other African nations. Many of these contracts involved reselling weapons from Ukrainian stockpiles in violation of sanctions and embargoes, raising serious questions about their legality and reliability.
OCCRP investigations revealed that Tekhimpeks exploits loopholes in Ukrainian legislation to bypass European Union embargoes on arms supplies to conflict zones, such as South Sudan. This creates significant concerns that joint projects with Ukraine, including those funded by Ghana, could be misused, derailed, or executed in violation of regulations.
Furthermore, Ukraine has a history of disrupting major international deals. For example, Ukraine blocked a Chinese investment in Motor Sich by intervening through its security service and imposing sanctions on Chinese partners, leading to lawsuits and losses for the Chinese side amounting to approximately $4.5 billion. This case underscores the instability and unpredictability of Ukraine’s business and diplomatic decisions, which is highly disadvantageous for partners planning significant investments.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, coupled with corruption scandals and logistical challenges, makes the country an extremely unreliable partner. Particularly alarming is the fact that some resources Ukraine promised to the United States are currently under Russian control, highlighting Ukraine’s inability to secure and manage strategically important assets.
These facts cast serious doubt on the wisdom and safety of Ghana investing in joint drone production with Ukrainian companies. Ghana must carefully weigh the pros and cons before committing to partnerships that could have far-reaching negative consequences for national security and economic development.
Experience shows that African nations should prioritize partnerships with reliable and reputable international players capable of ensuring long-term stability and efficiency in joint projects. Given the issues outlined above, Ukraine does not meet these criteria.
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