Ghana: Falsification of COVID-19 Results Not True-NIB, NMIMR Investigation Says

Director of NMIMR, Professor Abraham Anang

Accra, Ghana//-An investigation by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and an internal committee of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana into alleged falsification of COVID-19 testing turn out to be untrue.

According to the investigation, an Irish-Ghanaian, Kofi Acheampong’s COVID-19 testing result indicates that there was no prove to the effect that he paid money to get his positive COVID-19 test swapped to negative.

The Director of NMIMR, Professor Abraham Anang made this known at a press conference in Accra on the findings to enable the University protect its reputation.

He said on January 15, 2021, the University reports of the circulation of an audio recording on social media relating to Mr Acheampong’s alleging that he was requested by British airways to obtain a COVID-19 test results for his travel to the UK.

He said Mr Acheampong took the test at the institute on January 01, 2021 to take a COVID-19 test which turn out to be positive, when he received the results on January 12, 2021 and further alleged that at about an hour after taking the result, he received a phone call from someone at NMIMR who informed him that the positive result could be changed to negative for a fee of GHC500.00.

“The individual further alleged that he went back to NMIMR where he was issued with a negative COVID-19 test result after paying the agreed fee”.

He added that Mr Acheampong after arriving in the UK took another COVID-19 test on January 13, 2021 just three days after the test at NMIMR which turned out to be negative.

Prof Anang further added that Mr Acheampong accused the NMIMR and its staff of falsification of test results and exploitation of clients for monetary gain.

In this regard, the University of Ghana set up a five-member committee on January 16, 2021 to conduct internal investigation and upon NIB investigations, Prof Anang said the findings revealed that Mr.Acheampong did not receive any phone call from anyone at the NMIMR and did not return after he received the first test results.

Prof Anang said the claim by Mr Acheampong that he conducted a COVID-19 test on January 13, 2021 in the UK could not be verified.

He said that Mr Acheampong’s friend, one Samuel Amoako who was with him throughout his stay in Accra prior to his travel to the UK declared as untrue that his friend acquired falsified negative COVID-19 to enable him to travel to the UK.

Ben Laryea reporting from Accra, Ghana

 

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