The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has described as discriminatory the reported disqualification of some applicants from recent security services recruitment on the basis of their HIV-positive status.
Addressing a news conference, the Commission said the Ghana AIDS Commission Act clearly states that a person’s HIV status alone cannot be used as grounds to deny employment or the right to work.
Technical Director of the Commission, Dr. Fred Nana Poku, explained that the proportion of applicants who tested HIV positive was consistent with Ghana’s national HIV prevalence rate of 1.49 percent and should not be considered unusual.
According to him, “A person’s HIV status is not sufficient reason to deny them employment. The law protects the rights of persons living with HIV, and employers are expected to comply with these provisions.”
Dr. Poku also stressed that an initial reactive HIV screening result does not amount to a confirmed diagnosis. He said all reactive results must undergo the recommended three-tier serial testing process before a person can be confirmed as HIV positive.
The Commission further emphasized that public education on HIV and AIDS must be accurate, evidence-based and respectful of the rights and dignity of every individual in order to eliminate stigma and discrimination.
The Ghana AIDS Commission has therefore encouraged anyone who believes they have been discriminated against because of their HIV status to report the matter to the Commission for redress and appropriate action
