The Government of Ghana has summoned the Russian Ambassador to Ghana over the alleged unlawful publication of sexually explicit images of Ghanaian women without their consent.
In a press release dated February 17, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ghana, His Excellency Sergei Berdnikov, was invited to the Ministry on the instructions of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to address the matter.
According to the statement, the summons was intended to formally register Ghana’s strong displeasure over what it described as the atrocious conduct of a supposed Russian national, whose actions allegedly violate Ghanaian law. The government also used the opportunity to seek Russia’s cooperation in ensuring justice is served.
The Ministry indicated that the Ambassador acknowledged the violation of the privacy and dignity of the victims, as well as the broader cybercrime implications of the incident. He reportedly expressed the willingness of the Russian Federation to cooperate with Ghanaian authorities in addressing the issue.
However, Ambassador Berdnikov noted that he was unable to confirm the Russian nationality of the individual at the centre of the viral intimate videos. He further disclosed that the name circulating in the media is not recognized as a known Russian name and instead translates into an inappropriate or vulgar expression in the Russian language.
The Ambassador also revealed that similar activities allegedly linked to the individual in other countries have come to the attention of Russian authorities and are being investigated by Russian experts.
Despite the absence of a legally binding extradition treaty between Ghana and Russia, the Ambassador pledged that the Russian Embassy in Accra would share relevant information to support Ghana’s efforts to apprehend the suspect and bring him to justice.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to leveraging its longstanding bilateral relations with Russia and exploring all available international legal mechanisms to ensure justice for the victims.
