SABC Issues Apology Over Misreported Ebola Outbreak in Ghana

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has issued a public apology after wrongly claiming that Ghana had recorded cases of the Ebola Virus Disease during a recent news broadcast.

The error appeared in the news scroll at the bottom of the screen on Sunday evening, incorrectly attributing Ebola statistics to Ghana. SABC News acknowledged the mistake on Monday, stating that it regrets the error and apologises for any distress or inconvenience caused to viewers and authorities.

According to Ghana’s Ministry of Health, the country has not recorded any case of Ebola. The Minister of Health recently visited points of entry, laboratories, and treatment facilities as part of routine preparedness efforts to strengthen the nation’s readiness for potential public health emergencies. These measures do not indicate an outbreak.

Health officials in Ghana have emphasised that any confirmed Ebola case would be promptly and transparently reported, given the disease’s highly infectious nature. Ghana has maintained a clean record with no confirmed Ebola cases historically.

The incident underscores the importance of accuracy in health reporting, especially at a time of heightened regional vigilance over infectious diseases. SABC attributed the error to a production mistake in its on-screen graphics and reassured viewers of its continued commitment to maintaining high journalistic standards.