Happy Monday! Stay informed with today’s front pages of Ghanaian newspapers, all in one place. Newspapers for February 17, 2026.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ghana has issued a brief statement in the wake of widespread public anger and social media uproar over allegations that Russian nationals are luring young Ghanaian women into filmed sexual encounters for online distribution without consent.

The release posted on X on February 16, 2026, fails to condemn the alleged exploitation, non-consensual recording, and distribution of intimate material by its nationals.

“The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Ghana has taken note of the reports in the Ghanaian media on the alleged involvement of a supposedly Russian citizen engaged in sexual activities with some Ghanaian women and recorded those acts without consent,” the post read.

The response comes after days of viral outrage on X, TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp groups, where screenshots, testimonies, and alleged links to explicit content prompted hashtags such as #ProtectGhanaianWomen and #StopTheRussianScheme.

MP Sam George, chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection, has announced Ghana’s intent to pursue extradition if the primary suspect.

Responses on X

Responses to the post have been stronly worded. One person posted:

“Never trust those Russian scum. They throw African men into their war as cannon fodder & treat African women like disposable sex toys. Pure racist evil. Predators, not partners. WAKE UP AFRICA.”

Another asked:

“Any action taken?”

Another asked:

“So after taking the note, what next?”

Ghanaian authorities have disclosed they will pursue extradition proceedings against the man, said to have left Ghana.

The decision was announced by Member of Parliament Sam George on February 13, 2026, following weeks of public outrage over the alleged scheme.

According to Sam George — who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection — the suspect is believed to be a Russian national who used dating apps and social media to target young Ghanaian women, particularly students and professionals in Accra and other urban centres.

Victims were reportedly lured with promises of money, gifts or relationships, only to discover later that explicit videos were uploaded to adult websites and shared in private groups, often leading to blackmail, humiliation and threats.

A now-viral video purports to show the Russian national who previously gained attention in Ghana for controversial secret videos being arrested in Tokyo.

The video captures the man often identified in online reports by the username “Yaytsesl” being handcuffed and his rights being read to him by a Japanese law enforcement officer.

Arrest captured in partially verified video

The partially blurred footage circulating online shows Japanese police officers informing the man of his rights to remain silent in English while placing him under arrest.

In the video, officers say they had reviewed his online content before taking action.

The man is heard responding that he had never been arrested before and asking what personal items he would be allowed to bring.

The authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified.

Background: online activity linked to Ghana controversy

The suspect had drawn international attention after posting videos involving escapes with women in Kenya and Ghana that sparked widespread backlash.

The content allegedly included exploitative online material tied to vulnerable individuals, which triggered outrage among social media users and prompted calls for investigation.

Ghanaian authorities later confirmed they were aware of the situation and had initiated inquiries into the man’s activities while he was in the country. Officials indicated they were cooperating with international partners as part of broader investigations.

Reports from African and Russian media described the man as a self-proclaimed “pick-up artist” and online blogger in his 30s who travelled to Ghana and other African countries, where he allegedly recorded interactions with women without their knowledge.

Media outlets in both regions also alleged that he used sunglasses equipped with a hidden camera to capture some of the encounters and later shared the footage on social media, although authorities have not officially confirmed these claims.

Cross-border legal implications

Japanese police have not publicly disclosed the exact charges, but the arrest, if confirmed, highlights how digital activity can lead to international law enforcement action. Authorities reportedly acted after reviewing evidence linked to his online conduct.

The case has also sparked debate in Ghana about online exploitation, digital regulation, and the protection of vulnerable populations in the age of social media.

In Ghana, under the Cybersecurity Act 2020, the law punishes those who share nude photos or videos online, especially of women and children, often for revenge or blackmail.