{
  "id": 18655541,
  "title": "Sharing intimate images without consent is a crime, Gender Ministry says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/sharing-intimate-images-without-consent-is-a-crime-gender-ministry",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T06:48:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "3News",
    "slug": "3news",
    "url": "https://3news.com/news/intimate-images-sexual-blackmail-crime"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghana's Gender Ministry has declared sharing explicit images without consent and sexual blackmail as criminal offenses under Ghanaian law. The ministry issued a statement on November 6 following a surge in cases of indecent exposure, secret recordings, and threats to publish private images. It urged the Ghana Police Service and other law enforcement agencies to investigate reported incidents and protect those affected, following due process. The Cyber Security Authority has also warned of a significant increase in online blackmail incidents, with reported losses between January and April 2025 amounting to GH¢499,044. The ministry emphasized that agreeing to a sexual relationship or encounter does not grant permission to record or share such content publicly. It also condemned the spreading of private images on social media, which can lead to legal consequences. The ministry cited the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), noting that distributing an individual's intimate image without consent to cause serious emotional distress is punishable by one to three years in prison. Threatening to distribute such images with the intent to harass, coerce, or extort money is also illegal, with a term of one to three years upon conviction. In cases involving children, the penalty can extend to twenty-five years. The ministry advised victims to report incidents to the appropriate authorities, including the Cyber Security Authority via 292, 0501603111, report@csa.gov.gh, or their website, and the Ghana Police Service.",
  "summary": "Police have been asked to investigate sexual blackmail and the sharing of intimate images without consent, which the Gender Ministry says are crimes.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ghana's Gender Ministry declares sharing intimate images without consent as a crime.",
    "Cyber Security Authority warns of significant online blackmail increase in 2025.",
    "Penalties range from one to three years in prison for offenders."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Criminalizing non-consensual image sharing and sexual blackmail strengthens legal protections for victims against the rising wave of online extortion and digital harassment currently targeting citizens across Ghana.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}