The Government of Ghana has intensified its crackdown on cross-border cybercrime, revealing a high-level diplomatic and legal offensive against a Russian national accused of recording and monetizing intimate images of Ghanaian women.
In a joint press briefing, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, and the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, declared that the state is treating the matter as a grave criminal offense rather than a moral lapse.
Addressing the media, Sam George emphasized that the investigation is strictly grounded in Section 67 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038).
“Let us state clearly from the outset, this matter is being treated strictly as a cybercrime. It’s not a moral issue; it’s a criminal issue,” the Minister stated. He further clarified the law, noting that “consent to a private encounter does not, in law, amount to consent to publication or distribution.”
He revealed that preliminary findings suggest the suspect did not only record these encounters without consent but went on to monetize the content via online platforms, accepting payments through cryptocurrency to mask the financial trail.
Given the suspect’s nationality, the two Ministers met with the Russian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Sergei Berdnikov, on Wednesday morning. While the Ambassador noted the absence of a formal extradition treaty between the two nations, he reportedly confirmed that the suspect’s alleged actions also constitute a crime under Russian law.
Hon. Sam George added that the government has activated international cooperation mechanisms, including Interpol, to track the suspect. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, led by COP Lydia Yaako, is currently working to secure an international arrest warrant.
The Minister issued a stern warning to Ghanaians who might be tempted to participate in the circulation of the illicit materials. He noted that the law does not only target the primary producer but also those who redistribute the content.
He prohibited the acts of sharing, downloading, rebroadcasting, or monetizing the illegal content, stressing that any individual found engaging in these acts is liable for prosecution under Act 1038.
In a move to protect those affected, the Minister for Gender and Social Protection has established a Victim Support Desk. The facility is staffed with clinical professionals to provide psychological and emotional counseling.
The Minister concluded by clarifying that not every woman seen in the company of the suspect, specifically those engaged at public spaces like malls was involved in an intimate relationship with him.
He urged the public to respect the privacy of all citizens and encouraged more victims to come forward, promising “strict confidence” and state protection.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
