Poster of Russian man with some Ghanaian women
There have been disturbing reports circulating about a Russian man who engaged in sexual relationships with Ghanaian women, secretly recorded them using hidden cameras, and uploaded the videos online. The news has sparked strong reactions, with many Ghanaians blaming the women and even sharing their images on social media.
But the real question is: should these women be blamed? Are they at fault?
From my perspective as a man, in Ghanaian society it is typically the responsibility of a man to approach and propose to a woman. If a woman feels comfortable and interested, she may accept. No woman is happy to knowingly share a man with multiple partners. It is therefore normal for an unmarried woman to accept a proposal in good faith.
The real blame lies with the man who acted with criminal intent. He deliberately hid cameras and deceived these women for his own immoral purposes. Each woman likely met him individually, unaware of the others or his true intentions. Under such circumstances, it is unfair to subject them to public ridicule simply because they trusted someone who approached them with what appeared to be genuine interest.
We also cannot determine how long he courted each of them, and honestly, does the length of time even matter when it comes to accepting someone’s proposal of love?
As Ghanaians, we should show compassion and forgiveness toward these women—except in situations where any may have been married and thus engaged in infidelity. The central issue remains that the man committed a serious wrong. His actions amount to a violation of privacy and a defamation of the dignity of these women. He should be held accountable under the law.
Human intentions cannot be measured easily. These women could not have known that the man’s purpose was to exploit them in such a harmful way. While it is true that some individuals enter relationships for financial benefits, that still does not justify secretly recording and publishing intimate encounters.
We must focus our attention on holding the wrongdoer accountable and stop circulating the images and videos of the victims, which only worsens their suffering and humiliation. Instead, we should support and counsel them.
Additionally, claims about HIV infections should not be spread without medical confirmation. Being HIV positive does not automatically mean transmission occurs in every sexual encounter.
Let us avoid spreading personal judgments and instead condemn the actions of the man who committed this wrongdoing. At the same time, this incident can serve as a caution for others to be more vigilant in relationships so as not to fall prey to individuals with harmful intentions.
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com