The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Sergei Berdnikov, Russia’s Ambassador to Ghana, following what it describes as the illegal circulation of explicit images of Ghanaian women without their permission.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 17, the Ministry indicated that the Ambassador was invited at the directive of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to respond to the actions of an alleged Russian national connected to the widely shared videos. The purpose of the meeting, it said, was to officially communicate the government’s strong condemnation of what it termed reprehensible behaviour.
According to the ministry, the incident constitutes a clear breach of Ghanaian law, and authorities are seeking Russia’s collaboration to ensure accountability for those affected.
During the discussions, Ambassador Berdnikov admitted that the victims’ privacy and dignity had been violated and noted the broader cybercrime implications of the case. The statement added that he conveyed the Russian Federation’s readiness to work with Ghana on the matter.
However, the ambassador stated that he was unable to verify the nationality of the individual allegedly responsible for the videos. He further explained that the name being circulated in the media does not appear to be an authentic Russian name but rather an offensive or inappropriate term in the Russian language.
He also revealed that Russian authorities had become aware of similar alleged activities involving the same person in other countries. The ministry noted that the case is currently under investigation by Russian specialists.
Ambassador Berdnikov reportedly assured Ghanaian officials that the Russian Embassy stands prepared to share relevant information to aid efforts to identify and prosecute the suspect. The Ministry said such cooperation would take place within the framework of the longstanding relations between the two countries, despite the absence of a formal extradition agreement.
The government reiterated its commitment to using diplomatic channels and all available international mechanisms to pursue justice for the victims