The chief executive of Ghanaian radio station Dofopa FM has reportedly been killed while fighting in the Russia–Ukraine war, according to local media reports.

Samuel Awatey, founder of the Accra-based station, is said to have died in a drone strike while serving with Russian forces. Details surrounding his recruitment and deployment remain unclear, though reports indicate he had travelled abroad before associates later learned he had joined the conflict.

Awatey was known in Ghana’s media industry as an entrepreneur who built Dofopa FM into a community-focused broadcaster offering news and entertainment programming. His reported involvement in the war has come as a surprise to colleagues, as he had no known military background.

His death highlights growing concerns over the involvement of African nationals in the conflict. Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said at least 55 Ghanaians have died in the war since 2022, with others captured as prisoners of war.

Officials estimate that around 272 Ghanaian citizens may have been recruited, often through networks promising overseas employment before directing recruits to the front lines.

Ukrainian authorities have also reported that nearly 1,800 Africans from 36 countries have been identified among fighters aligned with Russian forces since the full-scale invasion began.

Awatey’s death has intensified debate in Ghana over illegal recruitment networks and the risks facing citizens seeking opportunities abroad, as authorities continue investigations into such schemes.

For media observers, the loss of a radio executive in a distant conflict underscores the widening global reach of the war and its impact beyond traditional geopolitical boundaries.