Fact-Check: Sissala “Suffering”? Stolen Kenyan Harvest Pic Torpedoes NPP Propagandist’s Rant
A political science lecturer and known sympathizer of Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has sparked online debate with a post on X (formerly Twitter) claiming a severe maize glut is devastating farmers in Sissala Land.
Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, who lectures in the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana, shared an image of bagged maize alongside the caption: “Sissala Farmers are suffering. It’s a Maize glut in Sissala Land. High volumes, low prices and low demand is pushing my people into poverty. Where comes our help?”
The post, which has garnered significant attention, paints a picture of economic hardship amid bumper harvests, low prices due to oversupply and weak demand allegedly trapping farmers in poverty.
But a KumasiMail.com fact-check reveals the image is not from Sissala and undermines the post’s credibility.
Image Origin: Traced to Kenyan Farm, Not Ghana
Using reverse image search tools like Google Images and TinEye, as well as manual checks on social media archives, we traced the photo back to October 13, 2024 months before Dr. Zaato’s recent post.
The image first appeared on Instagram from the account @digitalfarmerske, run by a Kenyan agricultural services page focused on farming tips and success stories.
The original caption reads: “The harvest was great! First season harvest. Maize farming is great.” Posted during Kenya’s maize harvest season, the photo depicts a successful yield, with bags neatly packed hardly evidence of a “glut” or poverty.
No metadata or context links it to Ghana’s Sissala region in the Upper West Region.
This mismatch is a classic case of visual misinformation, where an unrelated image amplifies a narrative without proof.
Verdict: Misleading
Mostly False. While Sissala farmers face real pressures like market access, Dr. Zaato’s post uses a Kenyan harvest photo to falsely imply a local crisis.
Authentic images and data would strengthen such claims. Social media users should verify visuals before sharing.
Source: www.Kumasimail.com /Fact-check by- Kwadwo Owusu
