Russia-Ukraine War Directly Affecting Africa — Nana Addo tells UN
Olusiji Balogun.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana has expressed concerns over the impact the Russia-Ukraine war is having on the African continent.
He said the conflict has compromised the food security of Africa, causing a disruption of commodity imports.
Speaking at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, he said the war has had an impact on the economies of African countries including Ghana.
He noted that while grappling with the consequences of COVID-19, Russia invaded Ukraine, aggravating the already difficult situation.
“It is not just the dismay that we feel at seeing such deliberate devastation of cities and towns in Europe in the year 2022; we are feeling this war directly in our lives in Africa. Every bullet, every bomb, every shell that hits a target in Ukraine hits our pockets and our economies in Africa,” he said.
He said the inflation rate is not increasing in only Ghana but it is also the same story in some developed countries including the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).
According to him, “The economic turmoil is global with inflation as the number one enemy this year. It hit a 40-year-high in the US and UK in recent months. There is record inflation in the eurozone.
“Several African countries have inflation rates surging three to four times higher than what they were just two years ago. In Ghana, we are experiencing the highest inflation for 21 years. The high costs of food are hurting the poor, especially the urban poor, the most.”
