Ghana has formally briefed Russia’s ambassador over an ongoing investigation into a Russian national accused of secretly recording Ghanaian women and distributing the footage online without their consent, the government said on Friday.
The meeting involved Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, and the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, who held talks with Russian Ambassador to Ghana, Sergei Berdnikov.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Communication, the engagement forms part of the government’s efforts to ensure accountability in what authorities describe as a cybercrime under Ghanaian law.
Preliminary investigations by Ghana’s cybersecurity and law enforcement agencies indicate that the suspect allegedly recorded private encounters without consent and monetised the material through online platforms. Authorities said they are tracing digital and financial evidence linked to the case.
Officials emphasised that the matter is being treated strictly as a criminal offence under Section 67 of Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), which prohibits the non-consensual recording and dissemination of intimate images. Investigations, they added, extend to any individuals who may have redistributed the material.
Given the cross-border nature of the case, Ghana has activated diplomatic and international law enforcement cooperation, including engagement with INTERPOL and other security agencies.
The Russian ambassador acknowledged receipt of Ghana’s formal brief and said the information would be transmitted to authorities in Moscow. While noting that Ghana and Russia do not have an extradition treaty, he stated that the alleged conduct would also constitute a criminal offence under Russian law and pledged continued diplomatic cooperation.
Ghana’s government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting citizens’ rights and urged the public to refrain from sharing or redistributing the illegal material, warning that such actions constitute criminal offences.
Authorities said a victim support desk has been established by the Gender Ministry to provide psychological and emotional assistance to affected individuals as investigations continue.
