with several women and sharing the footage online without their consent.

African and Russian media have identified him as a self-styled “pick-up artist” and online blogger in his 30s who travelled to Ghana to secretly film his interactions with women. Media outlets in both countries reported that the man used a pair of sunglasses fitted with a hidden camera to record some of the encounters and later shared the videos on social media, although officials have not confirmed this detail.

Speaking to journalists, Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, said he had invited the Russian ambassador to discuss the alleged incident.

Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection said an initial investigation indicated that the suspect had likely left the country. It added that this “does not reduce the seriousness of the alleged conduct or the state’s responsibility to pursue accountability.”

George said he had asked the Russian ambassador in the capital, Accra, for Moscow’s cooperation in securing justice for the victims. However, Russia rarely extradites its citizens, except in exceptional circumstances.

The minister told BBC News: “I have invited the Russian ambassador to Ghana for a meeting. The actions of the Russian citizen flout our cybersecurity laws. I will officially communicate to the ambassador our position.”

Earlier, he told reporters: “That gentleman will be sought, and we will activate every resource at our disposal, working with Interpol. We will request the Russian authorities — and that is why I have invited the Russian ambassador — to cooperate with our law enforcement. We want the gentleman to be brought back to Ghana and extradited to face the full rigours of our law.”

George said the authorities would consider trying the suspect in absentia if he failed to return to Ghana.

Local media have reported that the same man had previously been involved in similar alleged illegal acts in Kenya.

Under Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act 2020, anyone who publishes explicit images of children or adults without full consent can face up to 25 years in prison. Authorities in Ghana have been paying increasing attention to online abuse, including sexual extortion and romance scams. (BBC/Getty Images)