The Government of Ghana has initiated processes with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to facilitate the arrest of a man alleged to be a Russian national who is currently a person of interest in a non-consensual sex-recording spree involving Ghanaian women, a case that has sparked widespread public outrage.
The move follows a high-level inter-ministerial engagement between the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, and the Russian Ambassador to Ghana, Sergei Berdnikov.
The meeting sought to formally brief the Russian Embassy on ongoing investigations and to outline Ghana’s determination to ensure the suspect is brought to justice.
The latest development reinforces the consistent stance maintained by Hon. Samuel Nartey George, who has publicly stated that the government would deploy every available resource to ensure accountability in the matter. Given the cross-border nature of the case, authorities have activated diplomatic and international law enforcement cooperation mechanisms, including engagement with INTERPOL and other relevant security agencies.
“Given the cross-border nature of the case, Government has activated diplomatic and international law enforcement cooperation, including engagement with INTERPOL and relevant security agencies,” a statement from the Ministry indicated.
The decision to involve INTERPOL comes amid public debate over the feasibility of extradition, as Ghana does not currently have a bilateral extradition treaty with Russia. Despite this, government officials have signaled that extradition remains an option under broader international legal cooperation frameworks.
Following the joint engagement, the Russian Ambassador assured Ghanaian authorities of his country’s willingness to cooperate fully. He confirmed that the formal brief would be transmitted to authorities in Moscow and noted that while there is no extradition treaty between Ghana and Russia, the alleged conduct would also constitute a criminal offense under Russian law.
He further assured that should the individual be located by Russian authorities, he would be subjected to criminal proceedings in Russia, pledging continued diplomatic collaboration to ensure justice is pursued while maintaining bilateral relations between Accra and Moscow.
Meanwhile, the Ambassador has reportedly informed Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that he is unable, at this stage, to confirm the nationality of the individual in question. He indicated that the name “Yaytseslav,” which has circulated publicly, does not appear to be a standard Russian name, describing it as a possible vulgar mispronunciation, a development that further complicates efforts to establish the suspect’s identity.
In a related development, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Kwabena Dwumfour, has assured that the association is coordinating with Russian counterparts to help ascertain the identity of the individual, signaling active involvement from the Ghanaian media fraternity in pursuing clarity on the matter.
The case continues to generate national attention, with authorities emphasizing that investigations remain ongoing and that all legal and diplomatic avenues are being pursued to secure justice for the affected women.
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