ACCRA, Ghana — Ghana has launched an investigation into a person believed to be Russian who’s accused of secretly recording sexual encounters with a number of ladies and publishing them on-line with out their consent, authorities stated Wednesday, in a case that sparked public outrage.
Samuel Nartey George, Ghana’s minister for communications, advised a information convention in Accra on Wednesday that the federal government has taken steps to hint and safe related digital and monetary proof linked to publication of the intimate footage.
Kenyan media beforehand has reported on viral movies that allegedly present Kenyan victims as effectively.
Kenya’s gender minister condemned the key filming of girls by the Russian man on Monday, saying the act could be investigated in collaboration with worldwide authorities. The minister, Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, stated the actions have been a type of exploitation and urged affected ladies to hunt assist by a toll-free helpline quantity.
Authorities in each Ghana and Kenya have stated that the Russian nationwide was allegedly recording and sharing the express content material on social media platforms with out the consent of the ladies in violation of the legislation.
Ghana’s Gender Ministry has stated it’s working with police on the case, together with exploring cross-border cooperation to trace down the suspect, who’s believed to at the moment be exterior of Ghana. The suspect’s actions have infringed on the “privateness and dignity of the victims,” Ghana authorities stated.
Individually, Ghana’s Overseas Ministry stated it referred to as in Russian Ambassador Sergei Berdnikov on Tuesday to formally convey the federal government’s “robust displeasure” over what it described because the “atrocious conduct” of the person, which it stated “clearly violates Ghanaian legislation,” and to hunt Russia’s cooperation in pursuing justice.
In accordance with the assertion, Berdnikov acknowledged “the violation of the privateness and dignity of the victims, and the bigger cybercrime dimensions,” and expressed Russia’s willingness to cooperate with Ghanaian authorities.
Nevertheless, the ambassador indicated he was unable to verify the suspect’s Russian nationality and stated the purported title circulating within the media was not a recognized Russian title, however somewhat “an inappropriate or vulgar expression within the Russian language.”
The case has triggered widespread debate on Ghanaian social media, with requires accountability and stronger protections in opposition to digital sexual exploitation.
Authorities say psychosocial and authorized assist for victims is being coordinated by confidential channels, together with toll-free helplines for abuse survivors.
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Related Press author Evelyne Musambi contributed to this report from Nairobi, Kenya.
