An irony of Russia at war

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine geopolitical war, many African countries including Ghana have tied their economic woes to the ongoing war. Our correspondent Justice Ahoto who visited Russia has been assessing the impact of the war on the socio-economic life of the Russian people and reports.

My tour starts with a visit to this year’s Rose Congress summit and exhibition center.
After a thorough security screening, I headed to cover the opening ceremony which was addressed by Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
Interestingly, he promised some debt cancellation and rebuilding of Africa.

I then proceeded to sit through round table discussions of various governmental leaders and business men from Africa and Russia, with a common goal of finding solutions to Africa’s problems.
Nothing about a war between Russia and Ukraine was worth discussing.

Manager of Business Development department of Rosatom, Albert Lazyebni after the round table discussion, took me through some technological transformation Russia has made and keeps improving upon in finding permanent solution to the problems of the world in the areas of health, agriculture, energy amongst others.

From there, I decided to tour St Petersburg, the home town of Russian President, Vladmir Putin considered to be one of tourists attractions in that country.
Here, business is as usual, all places of attraction are open to welcome visitors.

So, l visited some ancient and historic monuments such as, St. Michael Catholic parish and parks, where the revolutionaries were buried, Marble palace, St Michael Castle, palace square, the main square of St Petersburg where all national events are held and the Nava River, among other beautiful places.

Olga Bychek, my tour guide in an interview said, apart from COVID 19 devastaFting effects on their economy, Russia is bouncing back with tourism raking in the second highest revenue.
Annually, thousands of revelers travel to Russia for holidays.

As part of boosting revenue generation starting from August 2023, Russia has introduced electronic visa to applicants who are vacation.

Although I cannot speak the Russian language and could not interact with these people, clearly they do not seem to care about the ongoing war neither have their economic lives been altered by the effect of the war like my home country, Ghana in Africa.

As night fell on the last day of my tour led by Evdokia Polyakovskaya, PR Manager of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa, together with some Russians and my colleague journalists from Africa, decided to have a feel of the tourist crew ship for entertainment and relaxation.

It appears Ghana and some African countries which continue to blame their economic failures on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine are crying more than the ones facing the guns directly.
Probably, they have not managed their economic and socio-political affairs well.