Ghana pursues legal action after viral videos of Russian man courting its ladies

Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has vowed to pursue legal action after a foreign national engaged in sexual activities with some Ghanaian women and circulated videos of the acts online without their consent.

In a statement issued on Saturday, February 14, 2026, the Ministry’s Public Affairs Unit revealed that preliminary information indicates that the individual may not currently be within Ghana’s jurisdiction.

“The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has taken note of reports involving a foreign national who allegedly engaged in sexual activities with some Ghanaian women and recorded and circulated those acts without consent,” the statement read in part.

However, the ministry emphasised that this does not reduce the seriousness of the conduct or the state’s responsibility to pursue accountability.

Non-consensual recording and distribution of intimate images is a criminal offence and a clear violation of personal dignity and privacy.

“Preliminary information indicates that the individual may not currently be within the country’s jurisdiction. This, however, does not reduce the seriousness of the alleged conduct or the state’s responsibility to pursue accountability. The non-consensual recording and distribution of intimate images is a criminal offence and a clear violation of dignity and privacy,” the statement added.

The ministry said that before these reports, it had already been working with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Innovations and relevant agencies on measures to prevent and respond to image-based sexual abuse.

These efforts include digital safety interventions, engagement with online platforms, and mechanisms for reporting and taking down abusive content. The Ministry noted that these measures are now being applied to this matter by the relevant authorities.

“It is important to state that, before these reports, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection had already been working with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Innovations and its relevant agencies on measures to prevent and respond to image-based sexual abuse. These ongoing efforts include digital safety interventions, engagement with online platforms, and mechanisms for reporting and taking down abusive content. These measures are now being applied to this matter by the relevant authorities,” the ministry noted.

MoGCSP confirmed that it is coordinating closely with the Ghana Police Service, other security institutions, and international partners to explore all lawful options, including cross-border cooperation and mutual legal assistance.

Support services, including psychosocial care and legal assistance, are being provided through confidential channels to ensure the privacy and well-being of affected individuals.

The Ministry also reminded the public to exercise caution in interactions both online and offline and reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of all persons.

“The Ministry continues to work with the Ghana Police Service, relevant security institutions, and international partners to explore all lawful options available, including cross-border cooperation and mutual legal assistance. Support services, including psychosocial care and legal assistance, are being coordinated through. confidential channels to ensure privacy and well-being,” the ministry added.

As of February 14, 2026, the foreign national, identified as Yaytseslav (also referred to as Vyacheslav Trahov), had attracted attention across Africa, particularly in Ghana and Kenya, for posting videos of intimate encounters with local women.

In the videos, he is seen recording himself as he approached women in public spaces such as the Accra Mall in Ghana and shopping malls in Nairobi, Kenya.

According to reports, he used smart glasses to secretly capture these initial interactions as well as private encounters in hotel rooms or Airbnbs.

Shortened versions of the videos were shared on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

The videos sparked widespread debate over privacy, informed consent, and the ethics of filming intimate encounters without consent.

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