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Ghanaian authorities have announced plans to seek the extradition of a Russian man accused of secretly filming his sexual encounters with several women in Ghana and sharing the footage online without their consent. The case has sparked public outrage and renewed attention on online abuse and violations of privacy in the West African country.
The suspect, described by African and Russian media as a self-styled pick up artist and online blogger in his 30s, is alleged to have travelled to Ghana and recorded intimate encounters with women without their knowledge. Reports in both regions claim that he used sunglasses fitted with a hidden camera to capture some of the footage before circulating the material on social media platforms. Ghanaian officials have not confirmed the specific device allegedly used, but they have made clear that the conduct under investigation is a serious breach of the law.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, said he had invited the Russian ambassador in Accra for discussions on the matter. He stated that the actions of the Russian citizen flouted Ghana’s cyber security laws and stressed that the government would formally communicate its position to Russian authorities.
George said Ghana would activate every available resource, including working with Interpol, to locate the suspect. Although an initial investigation by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection established that the man had likely left the country, officials emphasized that his departure does not lessen the seriousness of the allegations or the state’s responsibility to pursue accountability.
“We want the gentleman to be brought back to Ghana, extradited to Ghana for him to face the rigours of our law,” George told reporters. He added that if the suspect fails to return, Ghana may proceed to try him in absentia.
The situation is complicated by the fact that Russia does not typically extradite its citizens except in extreme circumstances. Nonetheless, Ghanaian authorities have indicated that they will formally request cooperation from Moscow as part of their efforts to secure justice for the alleged victims.
Local media have reported that the same individual may have been involved in similar acts in Kenya, though these claims have not been officially confirmed by Ghanaian authorities.
Under Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act 2020, publishing explicit images of adults or children without full consent carries severe penalties. Offenders can face up to 25 years in prison. The law was strengthened in recent years to address growing concerns over the non consensual sharing of intimate images, sexual extortion, and romance scams conducted online.
Ghana has increased its focus on combating cyber related sexual abuse. In 2022, a 22 year old phone repairer, Solomon Doga, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual extortion and the non consensual sharing of nude images of a Lebanese woman. The case was widely reported and underscored the government’s determination to enforce its cyber security laws.
A correction issued on 15 February clarified that Ghana has not yet formally requested the extradition of the Russian suspect but intends to do so. As investigations continue, the case is being closely watched both in Ghana and abroad, with authorities signaling that violations of privacy and digital exploitation will not be tolerated.