The National Disaster Management Agency has called on Gambians to desist from publishing misleading and unfounded information on coronavirus.
The agency said in a statement signed by its executive director Sanna Dahaba: “It has been brought to the attention of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), that certain unscrupulous individuals are publishing, misleading and in some cases unfounded information relating to the COVID19 virus.
“The Agency wishes to inform the general public to desist from such acts as it contravenes 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 wishes to encourage Gambians and none-Gambians alike to contact the Ministry of Health if they have concerns/information in relation to the virus, or listen to the Media houses task to disseminate information about the Corona Virus.”
