The Ministry of Health has dismissed reports suggesting that Ghana has recorded thousands of Ebola cases and hundreds of deaths, assuring the public that the country has not recorded any case of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
The Ministry’s response follows the circulation of a publication attributed to SABC News on social media, which claimed that Ghana’s Ebola cases had risen to 2,300, with 930 deaths.
In a statement, the Ministry described the figures as false and misleading and urged Ghanaians and other African countries to disregard the report.
“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 Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to the country’s points of entry, laboratories and treatment facilities were part of routine preparedness measures and should not be interpreted as evidence of an Ebola outbreak.
It further stressed that the precautionary measures being undertaken are intended to strengthen Ghana’s capacity to detect and respond to potential public health threats.
“These proactive measures do not indicate an Ebola outbreak in Ghana,” the Ministry emphasised.
The Ministry consequently urged the public to rely on information from official health authorities and refrain from circulating unverified claims that could create unnecessary panic.
“The Ministry urges the public to rely only on official information from the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service and to avoid sharing unverified reports that may cause unnecessary fear and panic,” the statement added.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe infectious disease that has caused outbreaks in parts of Africa over the years. Ghana has periodically strengthened surveillance and preparedness at health facilities and points of entry as part of measures to guard against the importation and spread of infectious diseases.
The latest clarification comes as Ghana hosts the African Union Extraordinary Health Summit in Accra, bringing together African leaders and health officials to discuss Universal Health Coverage and efforts to tackle major health challenges across the continent.
