The Russian embassy in Ghana has said Western sanctions are limiting Moscow’s ability to deliver projects and conduct trade with Ghana arguing that restrictions on financing, payments and logistics are increasingly affecting African businesses dealing with Russian entities.
The comments came in response to criticism from EU Ambassador to Ghana, Rune Skinnebach, over delays to Russia-linked projects including a proposed
Rosatom nuclear project,
a Russia Export Centre facility, and
railway links between Accra and Paga.
The Russian Embassy said the delays should be viewed against restrictions imposed by the United States, European Union, and their allies, including measures targeting banks and companies outside Russia.
“Illegal unilateral restrictions imposed by the US, the EU and their allies – including secondary sanctions and threats against African banks, companies and individuals – are leading to the blocking of financing, logistics and payments.”
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The embassy said Western banks were refusing to process transactions involving Russian entities and that African countries faced the risk of being excluded from dollar-denominated settlements if they continued certain forms of cooperation with Russia.
That, it argued, limits the practical ability of African governments and companies to pursue projects with Russian partners, even where there is political or commercial interest in doing so.
“The cause lies not with Russia, but in the stifling sanctions regime that the EU is imposing on legitimate cooperation between sovereign states.
Sanctions are a tool of unfair competition and neo-colonial pressure, directed, among other things, against Africa. In effect, attempts are being made to deprive the continent of alternative paths to developmentt,” the Embassy stated.
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The dispute highlights one of the central limitations of Western sanctions – their impact can extend beyond Russian counterparties to banks, insurers, payment networks and companies in third countries that fear exposure to secondary sanctions or restrictions on access to Western financial infrastructure.
For Ghana and other African economies, the issue is therefore not simply whether Russia remains willing to invest but whether transactions involving Russian entities can be financed, insured, settled, and supplied without exposing African counterparties to sanctions risk.
The Russian Embassy said Russia-Ghana trade had increased in the first half of 2026, although it did not provide a figure.
It reiterated its position that Moscow remains a reliable partner for Ghana.
“Russia has been, is, and will remain a reliable, predictable and equal partner to Ghana.
We do not lecture or dictate terms. We offer Ghana, first and foremost, additional opportunities.
And that is what really matters,” the statement read.
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