Who Originated The Hoax?

The national security apparatus has mounted investigations to uncover the perpetrators of yesterday�s earthquake scare that kept millions of Ghanaians across the country, awake. The National Security, the Bureau of National Investigations and the police are collaborating to find the originators of the prank, which saw thousands of panicking Ghanaians rushing out of their houses into open places at dawn to escape the effect of the rumoured earthquake. At the time of going to press, sources within the security apparatus told the Times that the source of the text message carrying the hoax which spread across the country like wild fire from Sunday night was being traced. A National Security source said they were also working with the mobile telephone service providers to trace the mobile numbers used to originate the message, which claimed the BBC gave the announcement of an impending earthquake in Ghana, a claim the BBC has denied. The sleep of many Ghanaians was cut short as news of the impending earthquake spread across the country. With the recent earthquake devastation in Haiti fresh on the minds of Ghanaians, hundreds of thousands of people rushed out into the open to avoid being injured by collapsing buildings and structures front the anticipated earthquake. But it was realized later to be a hoax as the news could not be authenticated. The government described the prank as a �dangerous rumour,� and indicated that the source would be investigated and the perpetrators brought to book. In a statement to dispel the reports in the wee hours of yesterday, Mrs. Zita Okaikoi, Information Minister condemned the joke, and cautioned people against such practice. The statement said, �The Geological Survey Department and the National Disaster Management Organization have given an assurance that all is well.� Later, Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, a Deputy Information Minister, said on radio that the government was unexcited about the development, which he described as a �Total hoax.� He said it was regrettable that someone would put up such a joke that scared many families, with thousands more, keeping wake in open places.