The Ministry of Health has dismissed as false and misleading reports claiming that Ghana has recorded 2,300 Ebola cases and 930 deaths, assuring the public that the country has not registered a single case of the disease.
The Ministry’s response follows the circulation of a publication attributed to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), which claimed on its news ticker that Ebola infections in Ghana had surged, allegedly forcing consumers to reduce purchases of fresh produce.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 21, the Ministry said the publication was inaccurate and urged the public to disregard the figures, stressing that Ghana remains free of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
“The Ministry wishes to state unequivocally that Ghana has not recorded any case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The figures being circulated are false, misleading, and should be disregarded,” the statement said.
The Ministry explained that recent visits by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to the country’s points of entry, laboratories and treatment facilities formed part of Ghana’s routine public health preparedness and should not be misconstrued as evidence of an Ebola outbreak.
It said the inspections were intended to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent and respond promptly to any potential public health emergency, consistent with established disease surveillance and emergency preparedness measures.
According to the Ministry, such precautionary exercises are standard public health interventions and do not indicate the presence of Ebola in the country.
The Ministry therefore urged Ghanaians to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified reports capable of causing unnecessary fear and panic.
It advised the public to rely exclusively on information issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service on matters relating to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
The Ministry further reiterated its commitment to protecting public health through continuous surveillance, preparedness and timely dissemination of accurate information, while cautioning against the spread of misinformation that could undermine public confidence and create unwarranted anxiety.
