South African public broadcaster SABC has apologised after incorrectly reporting that Ghana had recorded 2,300 Ebola cases and 930 deaths.
The apology follows a swift response from Ghana’s Ministry of Health, which dismissed the report as false and reassured the public that there is no Ebola outbreak in the country.
In a video on July 21, 2026, an SABC News presenter admitted the mistake and issued an on-air apology.
“SABC News incorrectly attributed Ebola statistics to Ghana. This happened during a broadcast last night on our news scroll at the bottom of your screen. SABC News regrets the error and apologises for any distress or inconvenience caused,” the presenter said.
The broadcaster further clarified that, according to Ghana’s Ministry of Health, no Ebola cases have been recorded in the country.
It also explained that Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh’s recent visits to Ghana’s entry points, laboratories and treatment facilities were routine preparedness inspections aimed at strengthening the country’s readiness to respond to potential public health emergencies.
SABC emphasised that the inspections should not be interpreted as evidence of an Ebola outbreak in Ghana.
The apology came after the Ministry of Health strongly condemned the initial report, describing it as false and misleading.
The inaccurate information appeared on an SABC news ticker during one of the broadcaster’s bulletins and claimed that Ebola infections in Ghana had risen to 2,300, with 930 related deaths.
The Ministry of Health reiterated that Ghana remains free of Ebola and urged the public to rely only on verified information from official sources.
It added that the Health Minister’s nationwide inspections were purely precautionary and formed part of ongoing efforts to ensure the country’s health system remains prepared to respond to any future public health emergencies.
