Compulsory HIV/AIDS test for Ghanaians advocated

Kumasi, Aug 11, GNA - Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, has advocated the enactment of a law that would make HIV/AIDS test compulsory for all Ghanaians. He expressed the conviction that such law, when promulgated and implemented would help government to determine the actual number of infected people in the country so as to institute clear-cut policies to manage and reduce the prevalence rate of the disease. He stated that this would also enable the citizenry to know their HIV/AIDS status as they go for regular test in order to help them lead precautionary lifestyles.

Alhaji Saddique was speaking at the opening ceremony of the fourth National Crusade of the Presbyterian Youth and Students Assembly (PREYSA) in Kumasi on Friday.

The four-day crusade is being held on the theme, "The Christian Youth In a Globalised World" and is designed to enable the assembly deliberate on issues in relation to the youth, church and nation. It is being organized under the auspices of the Committee on Youth Ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). The Minister entreated religious bodies, civil society organizations and anti-HIV/AIDS campaigners to endeavour to stress on the use of condoms in their campaigns.

This, he said, was crucial to protecting the lives of those who lacked the will power to overcome promiscuous behaviour, citing Cuba as a typical example of having benefited a lot from encouraging her citizenry to use condoms.

"In Cuba the prevalence rate of the HIV/AIDS disease is less than one per cent", Alhaji Saddique stated, adding that this development was as a result of the institution of vibrant laws by the government in dealing with the disease and its related issues.

In a message delivered on his behalf, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, admonished the youth to be law-abiding and strive to gear their energy towards activities that would promote national development. Nana Adansi Ofori, President of PREYSA, expressed optimism that the crusade would help to foster unity among the splinter groups under the Committee on Youth Ministry of the PCG.