A lawyer and former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has sharply criticized Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, over his direct engagement with the Russian Ambassador to Ghana regarding an alleged cybercrime case.
The controversy centers on accusations that a Russian national, Vladislav Luilkov, secretly filmed Ghanaian women and published explicit videos online.
Obiri Boahen questioned the minister’s decision to invite the Russian Ambassador, Sergei Berdnikov, for discussions on the matter.
According to him, diplomatic engagement of that nature falls squarely under the mandate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — not the Communications Ministry.
“I will look at it from a diplomatic perspective. Sam George said he has invited the Russian Ambassador, but that is not the right approach. Sometimes, I don’t understand him,” he said.
“A matter of this nature is for the Foreign Affairs Ministry. You have to write to the ministry, and then copy the Russian Ambassador, so that the foreign minister can summon him. That is the NDC for you, everyone wants to be relevant,” he added.
Obiri Boahen also referenced previous remarks by the minister, claiming that in 2024 he described the Peace Council as a “useless entity.”
Meanwhile, the government, through the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, has announced plans to pursue the extradition of Vladislav Luilkov.
Officials say the move forms part of broader efforts to protect citizens’ digital rights and ensure accountability for online crimes.
Sam George emphasized that recording individuals without consent constitutes a criminal offense under Ghanaian law.
“It is a crime to record a person without their consent. Even if you record and keep it on your phone, once the person finds out and reports it, we will prosecute you. Now, this gentleman not only recorded but also posted the videos online for financial gain. We will activate every resource at our disposal, working with Interpol, to have him extradited to Ghana to face prosecution,” he stated.
He further added, “I have invited the Russian Ambassador to work with our law enforcement. We want the gentleman extradited to Ghana to face the rigors of our law.”
The development has sparked debate over diplomatic protocol and inter-ministerial coordination, even as authorities signal a firm stance against digital exploitation and privacy violations.
With extradition efforts expected to involve international cooperation, the case is likely to test Ghana’s cybercrime enforcement framework and diplomatic engagement channels in the coming weeks.