Criminologist and KNUST lecturer, Dr Jones Opoku Ware, says that holding a Russian national accused of committing a crime in Ghana accountable may be difficult because the two countries do not have an extradition treaty.

He explained that while Interpol helps countries share information internationally, it has limited authority in cases like this and cannot force the suspect’s return.

“We are looking at a foreign citizen who entered Ghana to commit a crime. If this person leaves the country, getting them back will be a very tall order because Ghana does not have any existing extradition agreements with Russia,” he told Joy FM’s Top Story.

The government has initiated efforts to bring back a foreign national allegedly involved in secretly filming and distributing intimate videos of Ghanaian women without their consent.

Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, said authorities are using both legal and diplomatic channels to ensure the suspect faces prosecution under Ghana’s cybersecurity laws.

Dr Opoku Ware, however, cautioned that without a formal treaty, the government’s recourse is largely limited to diplomatic engagement and requests to Russian officials. The situation becomes more complicated if the suspect has protections or connections under Russian law, he added.

“The government is exploring all possible options to ensure justice for the victims. At this point, we may have to appeal to the conscience of the Russian Republic to achieve some form of reparations or compensation,” the criminologist said.

“It’s a very complex issue. While the government will explore all avenues, securing justice will require careful diplomatic engagement and patience,” he added.

Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has cautioned the public against sharing, downloading, rebroadcasting, or profiting from a viral video allegedly recorded secretly by a Russian national involving several Ghanaian women.

Speaking at a press briefing together with officials from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Minister emphasised that distributing the footage is not only unethical but also constitutes a criminal offence under Ghana’s laws.

“Do not share, download, circulate, or monetise this illegal content. Doing so constitutes a criminal offence,” he cautioned.

Mr. George emphasised that the government is handling the issue with urgency and has already initiated steps to obtain crucial evidence.

“The Government has initiated steps to trace and secure relevant digital and financial evidence,” he revealed.

He also warned that the inquiry is not limited to the foreign national alleged to have made and circulated the videos.

“Any individual, including Ghanaian nationals, who has shared, rebroadcast, or redistributed the illegal material is also liable under our laws,” he said.

The matter concerns a foreign national who is alleged to have enticed Ghanaian women, secretly filmed intimate encounters without their consent, and then shared the videos online, reportedly for profit.

The Minister clarified that the issue is not about moral judgment or the personal decisions of consenting adults, but rather about illegal activity.

Earlier, Mr. George stated that the government has already begun legal proceedings and is working to extradite the suspect and prosecute him under Ghana’s cybersecurity laws.

Benjamin Madugu, Director of Communication, International Cooperation, and Strategic Partnership at the Cyber Security Authority (CSA Ghana), has condemned the actions of a Russian national linked to videos involving approximately 40 Ghanaian women.

Speaking in an interview with Sammy Kay Media on February 13, 2026, Madugu described the situation as unacceptable and a breach of Ghana’s cyber and privacy laws.

He emphasised that it is wrong for any foreign individual to enter Ghana and secretly record women in intimate situations, particularly with the intention of publishing such content online.

“It is unacceptable for a foreign national to come into our country and, for some reason, decide to record our ladies in the manner that he did. That is not acceptable, and it is condemnable. It is also an offence under the Cybersecurity Authority Act to record intimate images that both parties had agreed to capture at the time they were getting intimate and then leak those images online,” he said.

Madugu noted that the Authority is treating the matter with seriousness and will carry out the necessary investigations. He explained that the agency’s immediate priority is to determine the current location of the individual at the centre of the controversy.

“We want to find if the individual (Yaytseslav) is still within the jurisdiction. But if he has left, maybe he has not even gone back to Russia. Maybe he has gone to a different country and gone into hiding. But we will look into this matter and be sure about what the situation really is and what action ought to be taken,” he added.

He also warned the public against sharing the videos on social media, stressing that doing so is a criminal offence under Ghana’s cybersecurity laws.

“What we are urging is that if you are not the original person who recorded the video but choose to share it on your social media, that is also an offence under the Act, and it attracts not less than one year and not more than three years’ imprisonment.

"For those who think, ‘I’m not the one who recorded the video; the video is already out, and I’m only sharing it,’ if the affected individuals decide to make an official complaint to the Cybersecurity Authority, such persons can be brought to book,” he added.