Claim: Beatrice Annan, a deputy spokesperson of ex-Ghanaian President John Mahama, has shared a video of a muddied waterfall purportedly filmed in 2024, which she blamed on the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Verdict: Misleading. DUBAWA’s research revealed that the video of the muddied waterfall was that of the Kintampo waterfall. It was filmed in 2023, not 2024. Anas Sabit Anas, a journalist in the Brong Ahafo region where the waterfall is located, told DUBAWA that the water is clean and clear but occasionally muddied when torrential rains occur.
Full-Text
Beatrice Annan, a deputy spokesperson of ex-Ghanaian President John Mahama, has shared a video of a muddied waterfall, blaming the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the condition.
The Facebook post, which featured a collage of two videos, showed a video of a clean waterfall on the left hand, purportedly taken in 2016, and a muddied waterfall on the right hand, taken in 2024.
A screenshot of the video collage shared on Facebook
The lawyer wrote on Sept. 14, 2023, that:
“This is no longer funny. For how long will the NPP continue to destroy our country while we remain quiet?”
See a similar video shared on YouTube here.
Beatrice’s post follows a renewed campaign nationwide for President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government to ban illegal mining called Galamsey.
Data showed that about 60 percent of Ghana’s water bodies have been polluted, and the activities of illegal miners have destroyed forest reserves.
Commenting on the post, a Facebook user wrote:
“The remaining [three] months to the election [are too] much. We can’t continue with this criminal impunity [and] hardships.”
Another Facebook user added:
“This is terrible. Oh, Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia, why?”
The social media platform showed that, as of Sept. 15, 2024, the post had received over 2,300 views, 83 likes, 24 comments, and 19 shares.
DUBAWA decided to probe the claim as part of its campaign against misinformation and disinformation in Ghana.
Verification
DUBAWA’s research revealed that the video of the muddied waterfall Mr Mahama’s aide shared was that of the Kintampo waterfall. It was filmed in 2023, not 2024.
The findings of DUBAWA’s Google keyword search showed that the video of the muddied Kintampo waterfall was filmed in 2023 after a heavy downpour.
An Instagram user shared the video on Oct. 10, 2023, with the following caption:
“The current state of the Kintampo ‘TEA’ falls & BO’TEA’ Falls. The future doesn’t look bright anymore. According to them, it’s due to unusual torrential rains in the region causing an overflow which brought loads of mud & debris from upstream, giving the water a temporary makeover.”
DUBAWA contacted Anass Sabit Gidan-Sarki, a journalist in the Bono East region where the waterfall is located. Anass revealed that the water is clean and clear but occasionally gets muddied when torrential rains occur.
“The water just gets sometimes dirtier when there’s a heavy downpour,” Anass told DUBAWA.
Anass shared this picture of the Kintampo waterfall with DUBAWA, which was taken two months ago. Photo credit: Anass Sabit Gidan-Sarki
According to Mr Sabit Gidan-Sarki, the tourist site has been managed well after the 2017 tragedy where 18 people died following a heavy downpour.
“The facility has been managed very well since the incident. It is now under the care of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA),” he said.
See videos of the Kintampo waterfall after the 2017 disaster here, here, and here.
It is, however, unclear the year the video of the clean Kintampo waterfall was filmed.
Conclusion
The video of the muddied Kintampo waterfall Mr Mahama’s aide, Beatrice Annan, shared was filmed in 2023, not 2024, as she alleged.