32 Ghanaians stranded in Russia after 2018 FIFA World Cup

Thirty Two (32) Ghanaian football fans who travelled to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup have been left stranded in Moscow, following the Mundial.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Charles Owiredu in an interview with Citi FM stated that his office was informed of the situation by Russian authorities.

He further explained that twenty of the 32 stranded supporters were offered spaces on a chartered flight by the Nigerian Embassy in Russia for Nigerian fans who travelled to back the Super Eagles.

The 20 people he said have arrived in Abuja awaiting a flight to connect to Ghana.

Plans are also underway to fly the remaining 12 Ghanaians who are currently residing in a Hostel in Moscow to Ghana.

“Luckily for us, we had very good cooperation with the Nigerian Ambassador in Moscow. Nigeria was in the World Cup, so they had chartered a flight for their supporters to be sent back to Nigeria. We agreed that they could get us some space on our aircraft.

“They got us 20 of these stranded supporters on this Nigerian flight to Lagos. As we speak, I am aware that our mission in Abuja had made plans for our colleagues to be brought back to Accra. Four of them are going to procure so they should be in Ghana by now. The outstanding number is eight who are being kept in a hostel, and we are making plans to keep them out of Moscow as quickly as possible.”

In April 2018, a similar development occurred after it emerged that 50 Ghanaians had been deported from Australia after they were deemed to be “non-genuine travelers” posing as journalists for the Commonwealth Games.