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Ghana says it intends to request the extradition of a Russian national accused of secretly filming sexual encounters with women and distributing the footage online without their consent.
African and Russian media have described the suspect as a self-styled “pick-up artist” and online blogger in his 30s who allegedly travelled to Ghana to film interactions with women. Reports claim he used sunglasses fitted with a hidden camera to record some encounters and later circulated the videos on social media, though officials have not confirmed those specific details.
Speaking to journalists, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, said he had invited the Russian ambassador in Accra for discussions regarding the incident.
He stated that Ghana would activate all available resources, including working with INTERPOL, to pursue the suspect and seek cooperation from Russian authorities.
“We want the gentleman to be brought back to Ghana, extradited to Ghana for him to face the rigours of our law,” the minister said, adding that the suspect could be tried in absentia if he fails to return voluntarily.
Earlier, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection indicated that preliminary investigations suggested the suspect had likely left Ghana. The Ministry stressed that this does not diminish the seriousness of the alleged conduct or the state’s responsibility to ensure accountability.
However, Russia generally does not extradite its citizens, except in exceptional circumstances, which could complicate Ghana’s efforts.
Under Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act, 2020, individuals who publish explicit images of adults or children without full consent face severe penalties, including prison terms of up to 25 years.
Authorities in Ghana have increasingly intensified efforts to combat online abuse, including sexual extortion and non-consensual sharing of intimate images. In 2022, a Ghanaian court sentenced a 22-year-old phone repairer to 14 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexual extortion and sharing nude images without consent.
While the government has expressed its intention to seek extradition, officials clarified that a formal request has not yet been made but will be pursued through the appropriate diplomatic and legal channels.
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