The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has responded to a trending issue over the past week involving allegations of invasion of privacy affecting several young Ghanaian women and a Russian national.
The development, which has generated significant public outrage, prompted the Ministry to confirm in a statement that it is collaborating with investigative agencies and international partners to bring the alleged perpetrator to justice.
In a statement dated February 14 and issued by its Public Relations Unit, the Ministry acknowledged receiving reports about a foreign national who allegedly engaged in sexual encounters with several young Ghanaian women and recorded the interactions without their consent.
The Ministry noted that, based on preliminary information available to it, the suspect may currently be outside Ghana’s jurisdiction. It assured the public that the state would take all necessary legal steps to ensure a thorough investigation and accountability.
“Our preliminary investigations into the matter, which has caused widespread public outcry, indicate that the alleged perpetrator may be outside the shores of Ghana. As such, the Government of Ghana will take all lawful steps to conclude full investigations into the circumstances surrounding the videos and pursue accountability for all concerned,” parts of the statement read.
The Ministry further emphasised that the non-consensual recording and circulation of intimate content constitute criminal offences under Ghanaian law and amount to a violation of the dignity and rights of the women involved.
It added that prior to the incident, the Ministry had already been collaborating with the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations to address the growing issue of image-based sexual abuse and exploitation in the country.
The Ministry also indicated that it is working closely with the Ghana Police Service and other relevant local and international bodies to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that perpetrators are dealt with in accordance with Ghana’s laws.
The statement concluded with a caution to the public to exercise vigilance in their interactions, particularly with strangers, both online and offline, in order to safeguard their dignity and digital security in an increasingly complex technological environment.
–
Story by Sika Togoh|univers.ug.edu.gh
