Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, has stated that, his outfit will render support to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) to investigate the alleged falsification of COVID-19 test results which has been seen making rounds on social media.
He intimated that, although he has already contacted the institute to inquire about the issue, the GHS would allow it to carry out its investigations to confirm the validity of the certificate of the COVID-19 test results displayed on social media.
Speaking on the support the GHS will render to the institute, he averred that, the GHS would assist the Institute by looking into records at the airport to find out, if the name displayed on the certification of the alleged results from NMIMR went through the system and check its initial results.
“From what I know, it will be very difficult to buy such a certificate from Ghana unless you fake it.”
He further stated that, the allegation was, however, an eye-opener for the institute to take a look at its system.
This comes on the back of an alleged falsification of COVID-19 test results which was making rounds on social media.
The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in response to the allegation said, it has begun investigations into the alleged falsification of COVID-19 test results at the Institute, following reports on social media alleging breaches of the COVID-19 testing protocols.
In a statement issued by the Institute, Professor Abraham Kwabena Anang, Director of NMIMR, assured that the allegation was being treated with ‘grave seriousness’.
The statement said aside the Institute’s internal investigations, external investigations would be conducted by National Security, which was in discussion with the Coordinator of the National Network of COVID-19 testing Laboratories.
As part of measures by the government and health experts, individuals with suspected cases of COVID-19 are required to undertake a COVID-19 test to confirm if symptoms are of the virus.
For travellers to and from the country, a test report is required as prove of test to enable commuting in and out of the country. As part of the travel outlines by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, each passenger is required to undertake a PCR test before being allowed in or out of the country with a test not less than 48 hours. And this exercise has the lead institution being the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
As the cases continue to surge, government is focusing more attention on testing and adherence to the safety protocols.
President Akufo-Addo in relation to this, has asked laboratories testing suspected Covid-19 cases to immediately update the Ghana Health Service on all its positive cases.
Addressing the nation on Sunday, the President warned that laboratories that are found culpable of holding back records of positive cases will be sanctioned.
“All laboratories, public and private, must supply, in real-time, data on all persons tested on the common platform established by the Ghana Health Service. There will be sanctions against laboratories who fail to comply.”
