Sharers, redistributors of 'Russian' videos risk prosecution under cybercrime law - Minister
The government has warned that individuals who share, rebroadcast or profit from viral intimate videos linked to an ongoing cybercrime investigation risk prosecution under Ghanaian law.
Addressing a joint press briefing in Accra on February 18, 2026, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations and the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection stressed that investigations extend beyond the foreign national alleged to be behind the recordings.
“We would like to emphasise that investigations are not limited to the foreign national involved. Any individual, including Ghanaian nationals, who has shared, rebroadcast, or redistributed the illegal material is also liable under our laws,” the minister said.
The ministers cautioned the public against sharing, downloading, circulating or profiting from the material, noting that such actions constitute a criminal offence under Section 67 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038).
The warning follows the circulation of explicit videos allegedly showing a suspected Russian national engaged in sexual activity with Ghanaian women. Some of the content reportedly appeared on paywall pornography websites and on Telegram without the women’s consent.
In its first response on Monday, the Russian Embassy in Accra said it had taken note of the reports but did not confirm the allegations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently summoned Russian Ambassador Sergei Berdnikov to convey the government’s displeasure and request cooperation in pursuing the matter.
According to a statement issued by the ministry on Tuesday, the ambassador said he could not confirm the suspect’s nationality and indicated Russia’s readiness to share relevant information with Ghanaian authorities.
The government said the case is being handled as a cybercrime matter, with local agencies and international partners, including INTERPOL, assisting with investigations.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has established a victim support desk to provide psychological and emotional assistance to affected persons.
