Mr Ben Kumah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ghana United Nations Association (GUNA) has said that HIV/AIDS pandemic is ravaging the country and putting at risk the lives of otherwise peaceful men, women and children.

He said the disease has claimed more lives than the number of people who died during the second World War.

Mr. Kumah noted that members of GUNA are determined towards the prevention and ultimate eradication of the menace of the HIV/AIDS scourge.

The Board Chairman announced these in a speech read for him at the passing-out ceremony for 41 trainees in batik tie and dye at Agona Abodom in the Central Region.

The six-week intensive training took the participants through Batik, tie and dye, soap, pomade and screen printing and book-keeping

Mr Kumah said the association is putting in place, as well as initiatives, research and capacity building into the national agenda of Ghana to fight, prevent and help eradicate the spread of the disease.

He stressed that one area of concern to the GUNA is the sudden upsurge of terrorism, particularly its variety- armed robbery.

" This syndrome, which is alien to Ghanaian culture and tradition is condemnable," he said.

He called on the government and the security agencies to come out with new and scientific ways of combating this menace of armed robbery to sublime society.

Mr Samuel Agyekum Addo, Director of 'GUNA Tie and Dye' said the Association has trained more than 20,0000 people in Central, Eastern, Western and Ashanti regions who have become self-reliant.

He appealed to the Agona District Assembly and NGOs to offer financial support to trainees to enable them to start their small-scale enterprises in order to reduce poverty level in the district.