Claim: Health minister announces mandatory DNA testing in Ghana from 2026
Source: Social media
Verdict: Hoax!
Researched by Gifty Danso
Social media posts suggesting that Ghana’s Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced mandatory DNA testing in hospitals for newborns beginning January 1, 2026, were widely shared online in mid-June 2025.
The claims circulating on platforms such as X, Facebook, and TikTok come with similar captions attached to a photo of the minister. (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here).
This fact-check will verify the authenticity of the claim
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Fact-check
GhanaFact found that the posts claiming the minister had made the DNA testing announcement, were shared between June 13 and 20, 2025 (here, here, and here).
Has the Health Ministry announced plans to make DNA tests mandatory in Ghana from 2026?
The Minister of Health, on June 13, 2025, said the claim was false. In a post on X, he wrote: “Fake news. Please disregard” on a screenshot of one of the claims that had “Fake” inscription embossed on it.
Additionally, no credible news websites published any stories about a government of Ghana’s policy to conduct mandatory DNA tests for newborns.
Through keyword search function, GhanaFact also found posts on Facebook between May 20, 2025 and May 21, 2025, from US-based accounts that posted about mandatory DNA starting January 2026. (find here, here, and here)
A cross-Africa hoax
GhanaFact, in the course of our investigation, identified that similar DNA testing claims have previously gone viral in a number of African countries including Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya.
Like Ghana, the June 2025 posts about mandatory “DNA tests” were also shared by Nigerian accounts on Facebook and TikTok between June 6 and 17, 2025 (find here, here and here).
Disinformation about “DNA tests” is not recent in that country. In 2022, Africa Check, an independent fact-checking organisation, debunked claims in Nigeria and South Africa about a government plan for “free DNA tests.”
Another report in 2024 debunked claims in Nigeria that the Federal Government had mandated DNA tests for newborns nationwide (find here).
Almost a decade ago, the South African government also debunked similar claims after an online article claimed authorities had intended to introduce compulsory DNA testing requirements for registration of new births.
GhanaFact found the same disinformation in Kenya in 2024, when Africa Check debunked viral claims about nationwide mandatory DNA tests for newborns (here).
What is DNA?
DNA, a short form for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid, is a molecule that carries genetic information in humans and almost all living organisms.
DNA tests or genetic tests are conducted for several reasons, including determining whether an individual has a genetic condition or may develop one in the future and other times to establish paternity.
While investigating this claim, GhanaFact found that there had been calls for mandatory DNA testing in Namibia in May 2025. However, this was rejected by the country’s Justice Ministry, whose spokesperson indicated that the government has no plans to make DNA testing mandatory (find here).
Most recently in the UK, the government’s Health Secretary announced that every baby will have their DNA tested under a new 10-year plan for illness prevention.
Verdict
Therefore, the claim that DNA testing will be mandatory for newborns in Ghana is a Hoax!
