Ghana intends to request the extradition of a Russian man accused of illegally recording his sexual encounters with several women and sharing footage online without their consent.
African and Russian media have identified him as a self-styled “pick-up artist” and online blogger in his 30s who had travelled to Ghana to secretly film his interactions with women, allegedly using a pair of sunglasses fitted with a camera to film some encounters and circulated them on social media
Under Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act 2020, anyone who publishes explicit images of children or adults without full consent can face up to 25 years in prison.
In a statement, the Ghanaian government through its technology minister Sam George said it had invited the Russian ambassador in the capital city Accra to discuss the alleged incident as it seeks Moscow’s cooperation in getting justice for the victims.
“I have invited the Russian ambassador in Ghana for a meeting, he said, adding that, “The actions of the Russian citizen flout our cyber-security laws. I will officially indicate to the ambassador our official position.”
Reports suggest the man may have already left Ghana, yet officials insist that does not lessen the seriousness of the allegations. George said they would try the suspect in absentia if he failed to return to Ghana.
This as reports emerged that the same man had been involved in similar illegal acts in Kenya.
Local leaders, among them Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo have called for the arrest of Russian man over the viral videos of Kenyan women.
Odhiambo has expressed concern over the women whose faces have been exposed on social media. She said the man should be held accountable and jailed for his actions.
“I wonder what the women implicated in the Russian criminal fiasco are going through with their faces all over social media”, the MP posted.
In a statement this afternoon, the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services has in a statement said the Kenyan Government is coordinating a whole-of-government approach with relevant security, prosecutorial agencies have been directed to pursue the matter with urgency including collaboration with international authorities given the cross-border nature of the case.
“Any individuals found culpable will face the full force of the Kenyan law under the Penal code, the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act and all relevant statutes protecting women and children”, Cabinet Secretary Hannah Wendot Cheptumo said in the statement.
Kenyans were further directed to refrain from sharing or circulating harmful content, with the ministry cautioning that doing so perpetrates abuse, undermines cultural values of respect and may attract criminal liability.