Russia’s Public Diplomacy Aims at Strengthening Cultural Relations and Changing Perceptions in Africa -By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

After several months of serious preparations, the Center for the Organization of Scientific and Cultural Events in the sphere of Public Diplomacy, the State Duma (lower house of parliamentarians) and the Russian Embassy are set for the final opening of latest Russian Scientific and Cultural Center in the Republic of Ghana, highlighting a major step in promoting comprehensive cultural and public diplomacy.

The Russian Scientific and Cultural Center represents the main structural chain of Russia’s public diplomacy or soft power in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Russian Scientific and Cultural Center is created within the framework of the revised foreign policy approved by the Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023. It focuses on designed policy aspects directed toward influencing public opinions and shaping policy perceptions across the emerging multipolar world.

The Russian Scientific and Cultural Center focuses, certainly, on the engagement of the youth in various activities, the promotion of Russian language and culture, and the development of scientific and educational cooperation.

In an interview B&FT in late September 2025, Natalia Krasovskaya, Executive Director of the NGO “Center for the Organization of Scientific and Cultural Events in the Sphere of Public Diplomacy” and member of the Expert Council on the development and support of comprehensive partnership with African countries, under the State Duma of the Federal Assembly, explained that the Russian Scientific and Cultural Center would operate under the bilateral agreement signed with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Arts, and with the Ministry of Foreign of Foreign Affairs and Integration.

With Russia’s growing influence in Africa, Krasovskaya further emphasized that long-term public diplomacy becomes an important undertaking at this stage in the development of multifaceted relations between Russia and African countries. As an expert on the State Duma’s Council, support for first-class initiatives from Russian legislators, significantly play tremendous roles in expanding the opportunities for international activity.

The Center for Public Diplomacy, having worked with Ghana for over a year, can concretely testify that Ghana is home to a significant number of people educated in the Soviet Union and later in Russia. Russian language and culture are highly respected, and Russian education is highly valued in Ghana. This also creates grounds to open Russian House, to be coordinated under Rossotrudnischestvo.

“We have signed an agreement with Rossotrudnichestvo, under which the Centre for Public Diplomacy is granted the right to open a partner Russian House in Ghana under the auspices of Rossotrudnichestvo. I believe that educational initiatives, as a form of Russia’s soft power, will gain traction quickly in Ghana. Our universities will undoubtedly welcome this partnership,” she underlined. Krasovskaya added that education will be the primary focus of the centre’s activities, as there is significant interest in the Russian educational system in Ghana.

Yevgeny Primakov, head of the Rossotrudnischestvo, indicated that establishing these Russian Houses are, obviously, in great demand across African continent. In most cases, the Russian House, as non-government institution, operate within the bilateral cultural agreements. It plans to open, for instance, in Sudan, Angola, Sudan, and Sierra Leone. It already exist in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia.

“We were delighted to support the initiative of State Duma member and head of the Ghanaian Interparliamentary Friendship Group, Dmitriy Savelyev, to translate and publish John Dramani Mahama’s book “My First Coup” into Russian,” Natalia Krasovskaya said, and added that the Center for Public Diplomacy views this publication as a valuable opportunity for Russians to gain a better understanding of Ghana and Africa as a whole.

In July 2024, Mahama presented the Russian language translation of his memoir, and expressed sincere gratitude to the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dmitriy Savelyev, a member of the Russian State Duma, the Russia-Ghana Parliamentary Friendship Association and his old friends who helped in translating the book and organized the launch event. As a former graduate of the Soviet Party School, Mahama, however, expressed hope that the book would find a place in Russian academia for those interested in learning more about Africa.

It is worth mentioning that Russian approach to soft power or public diplomacy in Africa emphasizes education and culture. Therefore, for Ghana, opening the Russian Scientific and Cultural Center uniquely symbolizes growing bilateral cultural influence, and particularly with high potential for strengthening cooperation in the educational field and for sustaining partnerships in other spheres such as the economy and trade, and youth entrepreneurship.

Later, a delegation from the Center for Public Diplomacy was honored to participate in the inauguration of President Mahama. Thus, with many ties to Ghana, and the decision to open a representative office in Accra is a natural step in the development of these relations. The signing of a corresponding agreement with the Ghanaian side expected in September: meetings at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Education are planned during visit to Accra. It is expected that the representative office will begin operating fully in Accra by the end of this year.

Significance of the Project: First and foremost, it will offer Russian language courses, a hallmark of the Center for Public Diplomacy. The Russian Scientific and Cultural Center will feature large-scale joint cultural activities, as an important step in deepening insights into Russia’s cultural diplomacy, and further underscores Ghana’s increasing multifaceted cooperation with the Republic of Ghana under President John Mahama.

In early October, a large delegation of representatives from Russian universities – members of the Consortium of Russian Universities for the Development of Cooperation with African Countries – is scheduled to visit Ghana this fall. During the visit, the Russians will visit not only the capital, but also several provinces to establish contacts with leading Ghanaian universities. The high-powered State Duma delegation and members of the Expert Council will be exploring opportunities to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with educational institutions in different regions in the Republic of Ghana.
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