Ghana's economic and social development 'hindered by HIV'
02/02/2010
Ghana has been held back from developing its economic and social potential to the full due the spread of HIV.
This is the viewpoint expressed by Stephen Agyeman-Badu, the Techiman municipal representative for HIV and AIDS, who was quoted by the Ghana News Agency as saying that social order and livelihoods are being threatened by the disease.
Mr Agyeman-Badu explained that high numbers of deaths have held back the country's workforce, negatively affecting productivity.
Although most people are educated as to how they can prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, a number of factors stop them from doing so, such as "poor bargaining, cultural practices and claim[s] of faithfulness to sexual partners".
The representative called for workplaces to implement strategies to encourage safe sex.
This news comes after chief executive of the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa district in Ghana Nkrumah Aboah was quoted by the same news provider in December as saying that carriers of HIV and AIDS should not have to face discrimination.
Written by Clare Devlin 
