In early February 2026 a video started circulating online that stopped Ghanaian social media cold. What looked at first like just another clip of a foreign tourist talking to a Ghanaian woman quickly turned into something much darker. People began to recognize an unsettling pattern — a man approaching women in public places, engaging them in conversation, getting them to join him later, and then intimate footage of them in private rooms. The videos spread quickly, shocking thousands.
The man at the center of the storm was widely reported by both Ghanaian and international outlets as a Russian national, confirmed by the Ghanaian government to be a Russian passport holder. Authorities later disclosed his identity as Vladislav Aleksandrovich Liulkov, born in 1989, after the passport he used to enter the country was shared with the press.
From the beginning it was clear this wasn’t simply consensual footage that got loose. The outrage didn’t center around whether what happened between adults was legal — it centered on the secret recording and distribution of intimate acts without consent. The Ghanaian people were rightly angry because private moments were thrust into the public eye for entertainment and profit.
Reports from both Ghana and Kenya showed that this individual was not just in Ghana — he had been seen in other African capitals. In Kenya social media went into frenzy after dozens of women discovered footage of themselves had been uploaded to paid channels and social platforms they never agreed to be on.
As media outlets caught wind of the story, government offices were pulled into action. The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations in Ghana announced investigations, steps to gather evidence, and efforts to secure an international arrest through INTERPOL. A warrant is being sought so that the man can face charges for recording and distributing sexual content without consent — a move that has galvanized public debate about digital privacy laws.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection condemned the actions as a form of sexual exploitation and a violation of the dignity and privacy of women. The Ghana Psychological Association highlighted the severe mental harm that non-consensual sexual filming and publication can cause, including trauma, shame, and long-term psychological damage.
Public reactions have been loud and mixed. Some commentators focused on morality, some on shame, and others on deeper cultural issues. One Ghanaian media personality even urged husbands to end relationships with wives involved in the videos, a remark that sparked wide debate about respect and judgment.
Beyond the politics and outrage lies an uncomfortable truth many people are grappling with: why were so many women willing to go with a stranger so quickly? In discussions on social platforms, many Ghanaians are confronting long-standing issues of self-worth, identity, and the lingering effects of colonial psychology that equate foreign, especially white, presence with higher value. Thousands of comments from Ghanaian forums reflect frustration about the eagerness some women showed to engage with an unknown man, and how that dynamic plays into the broader psyche of post-colonial society.
Whether the encounter was consensual in the bedroom or not is part of a broader debate — but what is undeniable is that no woman gave consent to be recorded and have that content shared globally. That alone is a violation of Ghana’s cyber laws and of basic human dignity.
The legal process is ongoing. Ghana is preparing a case even if the suspect remains outside its borders, with law enforcement pledging to pursue charges in absentia if necessary. The government also summoned the Russian ambassador to express strong displeasure and seek cooperation in bringing him to justice.
This case has not simply exposed one man’s behavior — it has forced a national conversation about consent, gender relations, internet exploitation, and how society views foreign influence. Thousands of citizens, activists, and legal minds are now demanding stronger protections against digital abuse and clearer laws to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As prosecutions develop and evidence continues to be gathered, Ghana stands at a crossroads. Will this episode ignite lasting reform and accountability, or will it fade into another case of social media outrage and forgotten victims? Only time will tell.
