Kwesi Pratt Slams Zelenskyy Over ‘Drone Deal’ Claims, Warns Against Undermining Ghana’s Non-Aligned Stance
Veteran journalist accuses Ukrainian leader of exporting conflict and interfering in Ghana’s foreign policy
Edem Latsu Nukafu 
Renowned Pan-Africanist and managing editor of The Insight, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has launched a blistering critique of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of attempting to undermine Ghana’s historic Non-Aligned foreign policy championed by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
In a hard-hitting article published on Thursday, July 17, 2025, and shared via his official X page, Mr. Pratt alleged that Zelenskyy is deliberately trying to draw Ghana into Ukraine’s war with Russia—despite the country’s long-standing policy of neutrality in global conflicts.
“Unfortunately for Ghanaians, Zelenskyy has chosen Ghana as one of his export destinations to sow seeds of mistrust and undermine the Non-Aligned foreign policy advocated by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah,” Mr. Pratt wrote.
■ Private Call Made Public
According to Mr. Pratt, Zelenskyy had placed a call to President John Dramani Mahama to discuss pre-existing projects from the previous Akufo-Addo administration. However, he accused the Ukrainian leader of breaching diplomatic norms by publicising the conversation on social media without consent.
“Zelenskyy unilaterally decided to report on this obviously private conversation with President Mahama on his X page,” Pratt lamented. “He knows very well that unlike Akufo-Addo, Mahama hasn’t taken sides in the Ukraine or Israel conflicts.”
Mr. Pratt expressed alarm over claims that Ghana would finance Ukraine’s drone production and collaborate on border security operations, labelling them as “preposterous” and “reckless”.
■ “Ghana Cannot Afford Ukraine’s War”
Citing the dire economic challenges facing Ghana, Pratt questioned the logic behind funding another nation’s military capacity while the country struggles with a US$3.7 billion energy sector debt.
“What can be the sense in financing Ukraine’s production of drones when Ghana is unable to pay its power sector debt?” he asked. “Only yesterday, President Mahama announced the cancellation of petrol allowances for political appointees as part of new austerity measures.”
■ Regional Security at Stake
Kwesi Pratt further warned that Ghana’s involvement in Ukrainian drone development could erode the trust between Ghana and its Sahelian neighbours, namely Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. He accused Ukraine of supporting “terrorist actors” in those countries and questioned how Mahama could mediate ECOWAS-Alliance of Sahel States tensions under such suspicions.
“Secure our borders from whom?” Pratt demanded. “Ghana’s threats do not come from neighbouring governments—but from terrorists Ukraine is aiding in the Sahel.”
He also dismissed Ukraine’s proposal to establish a food logistics hub in Ghana and deepen agro-industrial partnerships, saying, “The least said about that, the better.”
■ Media, Diplomacy, and Misinformation
Pratt did not spare Ghanaian media, criticising several outlets for uncritically republishing Zelenskyy’s tweet without verifying facts or consulting the Presidency.
“This raises serious concerns that some articles may have been commissioned content. If true, it signifies an alarming overreach by the Ukrainian Embassy in Ghana,” he said.
He urged Ghanaians to remain alert to potential foreign interference and to defend the Non-Aligned values that have guided the nation’s diplomatic posture for decades.
“Zelenskyy must be stopped from exporting the chaos in Ukraine to Ghana,” Pratt concluded. “His support for terrorists in the Sahel has already created enough problems. We must not allow him to create more.”
