The Agomanya township in the Eastern Region continues to record the highest prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS, almost twice the national prevalence rate.

The prevalence rate is 6.6 per cent, as against the national rat of 3.6 per cent. Koforidua, also in the Eastern Region, Wa in the Upper West Region and Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region also recorded significantly high prevalence rates of 6.4, 6.0 and 4.8 per cent respectively. The Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Prof. Sakyi Amoah, said this in an address at the launch of activities to mark a week-long celebration of the Chartered Certified Accountancy Students Society in Ghana (CCASSIG) in Cape Coast. Prof. Sakyi-Amoah said such high prevalence rates in the country are due to the low rate of condom use, high incidence of multiple sexual partners, and the mass movement of refugees, among others.

He said the seriousness of the menace could be devastating on the socio-economic lives of the people. He said the seriousness of the menace could be devastating on the socio-economic lives of the people. He noted that people living with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are 10 times more likely to contract HIV and urged people with STDs are 10 times more likely to contract HIV and urged people with STDs to rush to the hospital for treatment to help reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection.

He blamed sexual promiscuity on peer influence and the impact of Western culture on the youth and urged them to adopt positive sexual habits. Prof Sakyi Amoah said the high incidence of HIV/AIDS among women in the country could affect the government’s policy of women in agriculture and all other sectors and urged all to support the campaign against the menace.