Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally summoned the Russian Ambassador to Ghana, Sergei Berdnikov, following the circulation of viral sexually explicit videos allegedly linked to a man suspected to be Russian. The Ministry lodged a stern protest against the unlawful publication of intimate images of Ghanaian women without their consent, a case officials say reflects the growing threat of cross-border cyber abuse driven by an online race for clicks and cash.
A statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that Ambassador Berdnikov was called in on the instructions of the Minister to register Ghana’s “strong displeasure” and to seek Russia’s cooperation in pursuing justice for the victims. This incident comes as Ghana, like many countries, faces a surge in digital exploitation where individuals chase social media attention and monetization by publishing intimate material without consent. The case has spread widely online, raising public anger and renewed scrutiny of cybercrime enforcement.
Ambassador Berdnikov acknowledged the violation of the victims’ privacy and dignity and expressed Russia’s willingness to cooperate. However, he informed Ghanaian officials that he could not confirm the suspect’s Russian nationality. He further explained that the purported name circulating in the media is not a known Russian name but instead represents an inappropriate or vulgar expression in the Russian language. The ambassador also noted that Russian authorities had been alerted to similar alleged activities by the same individual in other countries and that the matter is currently under investigation by Russian experts.
Despite the absence of an extradition treaty between the two countries, the Russian embassy has pledged to share information to support efforts to identify and apprehend the suspect. The Ministry stated it will explore all international tools and remedies to ensure the suspect is brought to justice, adding that Ghana intends to leverage its bilateral relations with Russia to support the investigation.
While the statement did not identify the victims or specify how many women were affected, the Ministry issued broader travel and consular guidance to Ghanaians. Citizens traveling to “areas of concern” are urged to contact the Ministry or Ghana’s embassies for advice, and those living in jurisdictions with recorded violent extremism are recommended to restrict movement and maintain regular contact with consular officials.
The government is closely monitoring developments and has promised to provide updates when necessary. For the sake of digital safety, officials noted that cases like this should serve as a caution to individuals to be mindful of associations, particularly in an era where sophisticated technology can be used to record, manipulate, and distribute content at scale.
