South Africa’s public broadcaster, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), has come under scrutiny after falsely reporting that Ghana has recorded 2,300 Ebola cases and 930 deaths from the disease.
The report, which appeared on SABC’s news ticker, incorrectly suggested that Ebola infections were increasing in Ghana, forcing consumers to reduce their consumption of fresh produce.
Checks by Myjoyonline.com with health authorities and state officials have confirmed that Ghana has recorded no case of Ebola and has not experienced any deaths linked to the disease.
The false report has raised concerns over the accuracy of the information published by the broadcaster, with questions being asked about whether it was a result of a serious journalistic error or a deliberate attempt to create public alarm and damage Ghana’s reputation.
A Ghanaian citizen, Joe Anim, was among the first to draw attention to the report, describing it as irresponsible.
“SABC is falsely reporting on their news ticker that Ghana has recorded Ebola cases and that infections are rising. This is not merely irresponsible journalism; I believe it’s deliberate and malicious. Government should take them on,” he said.
The government is expected to respond to the false report and may demand clarification from the SABC while seeking a correction of the information.
The development comes at a time when accurate communication on infectious diseases remains critical, as misinformation can trigger unnecessary panic, affect public confidence and harm economic activities.
The claim that Ghana has recorded 2,300 Ebola cases and 930 deaths is false.
