Listen to the article
Apocalypse Averted: The Curious Case of “Ebo Noah” and the Global Flood That Never Came
A social media phenomenon captivated online audiences across Ghana and beyond during the 2025 Christmas season when self-proclaimed prophet Evans Eshun, known as “Ebo Noah,” predicted that God would destroy the world with catastrophic floods on December 25, echoing the biblical deluge.
For months, Eshun built an online following through his TikTok account where he shared apocalyptic warnings and claimed to be constructing arks along the shores of Takoradi in Ghana’s Western Region. The prophecy gained significant traction across platforms including Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, creating a mixture of fear, mockery, and viral misinformation.
Just hours before the predicted apocalypse, Eshun abruptly announced a divine postponement. “God has given us some time to build more arks in addition to the 10 that will contain all of us,” he declared in a video message. “So tomorrow, nobody should rush to any location. I am not selling any tickets, I am not taking money from anyone, so please stay home, enjoy yourself, have fun.”
As the story developed, it spawned numerous false narratives and manipulated media. An investigation by fact-checkers reveals several misleading claims that circulated during the height of the phenomenon.
One viral video purportedly showing crowds rushing to board Eshun’s ark actually captured Catholic pilgrims visiting Our Lady of Calvary Grotto in Techiman, located in Ghana’s Bono East Region. The original footage was posted on Facebook on December 23 by a user named Odihiyie Kwaku Atiemo, but was later repurposed with false captions linking it to the “Ebo Noah” saga.
In another instance, footage of a burning boat from the Democratic Republic of Congo was falsely presented as one of Eshun’s arks being set ablaze by an angry follower. The video, which featured commentary in Kiswahili, actually showed a whaling boat fire in Kindu, DRC, that occurred on December 22. Fact-checkers confirmed the origin through collaboration with colleagues at Eleza Fact in the DRC.
Claims that Eshun had purchased a Mercedes Benz with follower donations also spread widely. The self-proclaimed prophet issued a denial on TikTok, stating: “There is this rumour going on that I have extorted money from people to purchase a car, which is not true. Nobody has given me money, and I have not planned to take money from anybody.”
Even Russian state media outlet RT became involved in spreading unverified content about the story. On December 25, RT shared footage allegedly showing people from across Africa traveling to Ghana to secure spots on Eshun’s ark. The video, which originated on TikTok from a Togolese account, provided no evidence these individuals were actually heading to Ghana or had any connection to Eshun’s prophetic claims.
The saga reached its conclusion on December 31, 2025, when Ghanaian police arrested Eshun. Though initially reported by various media outlets without official confirmation, the arrest was later verified on January 1, 2026, when Chief Superintendent Seth Sewornu, Director of the Special Investigation Unit of the Police CID, confirmed the detention.
“Ebo Noah is in custody, we will send him to court tomorrow,” Sewornu stated in an interview. “The charges are false communication with intent to put the public into fear and panic. The boat is not for him, he didn’t build any boat, it is somebody’s boat.”
The “Ebo Noah” phenomenon illustrates the power of social media to rapidly spread both religious prophecies and misinformation, particularly during holiday periods when audience attention is heightened. It also demonstrates how easily digital content can be manipulated and repurposed to create false narratives during viral events.
As Eshun faces legal consequences for his apocalyptic predictions, the case serves as a reminder of how modern digital platforms can amplify fringe voices and create widespread confusion when critical thinking takes a backseat to sensationalism.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
An $89,000 car, huh? That’s quite a price tag. I’m curious to learn more about the factors driving up costs in the mining and commodities sector. Are supply chain issues, rising material costs, or something else the main culprit?
The DRC boat fire incident is really tragic. I’m glad the article is providing factual information to counter the misinformation that was circulating. These kinds of disasters deserve proper reporting, not just sensationalism.
Absolutely. Reliable information is crucial, especially for events with human loss. Spreading false narratives does a disservice to the victims and their families.
It’s good to see media outlets taking the time to properly investigate and debunk misinformation. Fact-checking is so important these days, when false claims can spread like wildfire online. Kudos to the team for this thorough report.
Agreed. Separating truth from fiction is crucial, especially when it comes to topics like mining, energy, and commodities that have major real-world impacts. Appreciate the effort to provide accurate, balanced information.
The details on the DRC boat fire incident are heartbreaking. I’m glad the article is highlighting the actual facts and circumstances rather than allowing misinformation to dominate the narrative. Tragedies deserve proper, respectful coverage.
Interesting to see how the Ebo Noah story unfolded. Looks like his apocalyptic predictions were just more misinformation spreading online. Good to see the authorities debunking the false claims.
Yeah, it’s worrying how easily this kind of misinformation can gain traction these days, especially on social media. Glad the authorities were able to set the record straight.