The
National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has called on the general public to
desist from publishing misleading and unfounded information relating to the
corona virus.
In
a media release, the agency said it has came to their attention that ‘certain
unscrupulous individuals’ are publishing, misleading and in some cases
unfounded information relating to the COVID19 virus.
The
agency said the acts contravene Section. 125 of the NDMA Act of 2008, which
states:
“A
person who, without lawful authority, makes or circulates a false alarm or
warning as to a threatening disaster situation or disaster or its severity or
magnitude, leading to panic, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to
a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand dalasis or imprisonment for a term
not exceeding five years, or to both the fine and imprisonment”.
The
agency, the release added, therefore encouraged Gambians and non-Gambians alike
to contact the Ministry of Health ‘if they have concerns/information in
relation to the virus, or listen to media houses tasked to disseminate
information about the Corona Virus’.
