[ 2021-03-04 ]

Allegations of falsification of COVID-19 test results untrue – Noguchi
A 5-member committee set up by the Noguchi
Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) to
investigate allegations of falsification of
COVID-19 test results by the institute says it has
found that the claimant, one Kofi Acheampong,
peddled untruths.

In a 3-paged statement, Noguchi said a separate
investigation by the National Intelligence Bureau
(NIB) also concluded that Kofi Acheampong lied in
a viral claim published on social media.

In January 2021, a public post went viral on
social media believed to have been made by one
Kofi Acheampong who said he paid for a COVID-19
test at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical
Research, a result which supposedly came out
positive, but he received a phone call from a
staff who proposed he could change the results
into a negative test at a fee of GH¢500 since the
claimant needed the test results to fly to the
UK.

He further claimed that after payment of the
supposed GH¢500, he was issued with a negative
test result which he used to fly to the UK but
after another COVID-19 test in UK, his result came
out negative, suggesting that he was actually
COVID-19 negative but was deceived to make the
GH¢500 extra payment under the guise of changing
his test result at Noguchi Memorial Institute for
Medical Research.

But Noguchi in its report said it is true that
Kofi Acheampong on 10th of January 2021 at 11:40
am, came to the facility for a test and paid the
official fee of GH¢350 and that he returned on
12th January 2021 to collect his positive result
and signed for it at 1.30pm.

However, there is no evidence that Noguchi issued
another test result.

“There was no evidence in the NMIMR data and
reporting system for the generation of another
report (negative) for Mr. Kofi
Acheampong…Without giving credence to the
supposedly UK NHS negative COVID-19 result that
was also circulated on social media, we would like
to state that, scientifically, it is possible for
a person to test positive for COVID-19 and convert
to negative status within a few days. The
technical data from Mr. Kofi Acheampong’s
COVID-19 test gave a cycle threshold (Ct) value of
36.12, which suggested that his viral load was
low, or he was on the path to recovery,” Noguchi
indicated.

The external investigations conducted by the
National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) into the issue
“revealed that, contrary to claims by Kofi
Acheampong, he neither received a phone call from
anyone at NMIMR promising to change the test
results at a fee nor did he return to NMIMR after
he left the place on 12th January 2021.”

“Investigation also unearthed that, Kofi
Acheampong did not use a falsified COVID-19 test
result to travel to the UK on British Airways,
flight 075. Checks with British Airways indicated
that the company did not request for a COVID-19
test report as a condition for Kofi Acheampong to
board their flight. At the time Kofi Acheampong
left for UK on 12th January 2021, a COVID-19 test
report was not a prerequisite for travel on
British Airways flights.”


Noguchi says the public should remain assured that
it will continue to provide accurate and reliable
COVID-19 test results.

“It is apparent that, Kofi Acheampong made false
allegations in respect of the falsified COVID-19
test result from NMIMR. The University of Ghana
would take the necessary steps to protect its
reputation. The University of Ghana Noguch
Memorial Institute for Medical Research wishes to
assure the general public that it will continue to
provide accurate and reliable COVID-19 test
results,” it concluded.

Source - Citinewsroom

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