News
‘Misinformation undermines trust in health systems, endangers lives’
An International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) impact award recipient in partnership with Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Mr Kelvin Odonkor, has identified health misinformation as one of the biggest health threats facing the country.
He noted that health misinformation had undermined trust in health systems and endangered many lives.
He said this at a training workshop in Accra to equip community health workers and health trainees with essential tools to combat false health narratives in their communities.
The workshop empowered health workers and young professionals with the awareness and tools needed to combat falsehoods in their communities.”
The event spearheaded by Mr Odonkor was in partnership with CHAG, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Public Health Nursing School, Korle Bu, FactCheck Ghana, DUBAWA and funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with Meridian International Centre as the implementing partner.
The workshop was also aimed at enhancing participant’s ability to identify and verify misleading health information. Attendees included frontline community health workers, representatives from non-governmental organisation and health trainees.
Topics treated included understanding the distinction between misinformation (unintentional falsehoods) and disinformation (deliberate falsehoods), practical exercises in utilising fact-checking tools and techniques for verifying health-related information, and strategies for engaging with communities to correct misinformation and ensure accurate health communication.
According to Mr Odonkor, health misinformation poses a significant challenges particularly in underserved areas, leading to issues like vaccine hesitancy and the spread of harmful practices at home that could have otherwise been avoided with accurate information.
He further mentioned that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana experienced a surge in health-related misinformation, which contributed to widespread confusion about the virus and vaccines.
At the end of the training works, participants were able to use fact-checking tools effectively to debunk health myths as well as formed a network of health misinformation fact-checkers and ambassadors committed to promoting accurate health information in Ghana.
Sharing their thoughts after the event, a public health nurse, Rabbi Braimah, said, “This workshop has enabled us to understand the difference between misinformation and disinformation. It has equipped me with the tools to ensure that the information I share or use is accurate.”
She also expressed her satisfaction for the programme, recommending that, “the training should nsot be limited to only the targeted audience but should be extended to religious groups and community leaders.
By Abigail Annoh
The Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, says Parliament and government officials are working closely with authorities in the Netherlands following the detention of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong.
Speaking on the matter on Channel One news yesterday, Mr. Dafeamekpor disclosed that the MP was detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Sunday while travelling on a private trip.
According to him, Mr. Frimpong personally informed him about the incident around 5 a.m. on the day of the arrest.
He said the issue was immediately escalated to parliamentary leadership and other state officials for intervention.
Mr. Dafeamekpor explained that the Majority Leader, who was in transit at Heathrow Airport in London at the time, travelled to Schiphol to engage the detained MP and better understand the situation.
He added that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ghana’s Ambassador to The Hague, the Attorney General, the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament had all been involved in efforts to address the matter.
According to him, a Ghanaian lawyer based in The Hague and qualified to practise there has also been engaged to represent the MP.
“The lawyer is dealing with the issues, but let me confirm that he is fine,” Mr. Dafeamekpor stated.
He noted that Parliament and the legal team were still waiting for official documents, including an authenticated copy of the arrest warrant and other details from Dutch prosecutors handling the matter.
The South Dayi MP therefore urged the media and the public to avoid speculation until all facts surrounding the case are confirmed.
“We want to urge all the media houses not to be throwing in things that have not been confirmed,” he said.
Mr. Dafeamekpor further explained that Parliament’s involvement was partly because the MP was travelling with a diplomatic passport.
He noted that extradition and detention cases involving political figures are not uncommon internationally, citing examples such as former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet and Julian Assange.
According to him, authorities are hopeful the matter can be resolved for the MP to return to Ghana safely.
He appealed to the MP’s family, colleagues in Parliament and the public to remain calm while diplomatic and legal processes continue.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana Water Ltd has announced temporary water supply interruptions in several parts of western Accra following technical challenges at the Weija Water Treatment Plant.
In a press release issued on May 13, the company explained that the challenges had affected water production and distribution in some communities.
According to the management of the company, residents in areas including Dansoman, Mamprobi, Mataheko, Laterbiokorshie, Korle Bu, La Paz, MacCarthy Hill, Gbawe, Mallam, Tesano, Darkuman, North Kaneshie, Dome, Achimota, Anyaa and Ablekuma may experience low water pressure and erratic water supply.
Management noted that engineers and technical teams were working to fix the problem and restore normal water supply as soon as possible.
The company advised consumers to store water whenever there is flow in their communities in order to manage the temporary disruption.
It urged essential service providers to contact their Assembly Members or the Ghana Water Ltd Call Centre for assistance.
The company apologized to customers affected by the situation and appealed for calm and cooperation while efforts continue to resolve the challenge.
By: Jacob Aggrey
