The Russian Embassy in Ghana has denied claims that it masterminded a recent demonstration which dominated the headlines in Ghana and beyond.
The official Twitter account of the embassy said it had no hand in whatever happened, including providing paraphernalia and T-shirts used in the infamous demonstration.
Background
An investigation conducted by Code for Africa (CfA) has uncovered a complex network of international involvement and coordinated efforts behind a pro-Russian protest that occurred in Takoradi, Ghana, on 13, 2023.
This incident has raised significant concerns regarding potential Russian influence operations in the region and their potential impact on Ghana’s stability. At the heart of this intrigue lies Simeon Boikov, a pro-Russian podcaster and YouTuber based in Australia. Boikov’s involvement in the Ghanaian protest extends far beyond mere advocacy, as he is alleged to have provided Russian flags and financed the production of Wagner Group T-shirts for the demonstration.
Consequently, the protest gained substantial attention both locally and internationally. The protest was part of a series of demonstrations held throughout the region in response to the Economic Community of West-African States’s (ECOWAS’s) ultimatum of military intervention in Niger, following the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the military junta on 30 July 2023. Russia has expressed its opposition to the use of force in resolving the Niger issue.
Similarly, Mali’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Abdoulaye Maïga, has stated that Mali and Burkina Faso are against any military intervention in Niger, whether by ECOWAS or any other force. He cautioned that both countries would interpret any military intervention in Niger as a declaration of war. Consequently, protests have taken place in Burkina Faso and Mali, during which participants prominently displayed Russian flags.
In the meantime, here’s the rebuttal offered by Russia;
