Ebola fight: Misinformation is our worst enemy — GHS boss
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has warned that misinformation could undermine Ghana’s efforts to prepare for a possible Ebola outbreak, urging journalists and social media users to verify information before publishing or sharing it.
Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has warned that misinformation poses the greatest threat to Ghana's readiness for a potential Ebola outbreak. He emphasized the importance of verifying information before publishing or sharing it on social media platforms such as TikTok and WhatsApp. "Our worst enemy is misinformation," Dr Akoriyea stated on Joy News’ PM Express.
He urged the public to cross-check claims with official sources like the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health before disseminating them. The speed at which information spreads online makes verification crucial, as people may misrepresent health developments or spread unconfirmed claims. Ghana has intensified its preparedness measures to respond to a possible Ebola case, but the true test of readiness will come when the country has to manage an actual case.
The Director-General cited the country's experience during the COVID-19 pandemic as a foundation for future response efforts and highlighted the availability of healthcare facilities in Ghana as an advantage. He stressed that accurate information is critical for public health communication, as false claims can fuel fear, undermine trust in health authorities, and encourage people to follow unverified advice.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
