The Ghana AIDS commission is working towards downsizing its governing board as part of its efforts to ensure effective delivery of the Country’s HIV/AIDS interventions.

The director general of the Ghana AIDS commission, Dr. Angela EL–Adas told Starr News that this measure, as advised by the Chair of the commission, had become necessary since the current number is too huge and public health financing is on the decline globally.

“A governing board of 47 members is quite unwieldy and so his Excellency, the chair of the commission has directed that with the various members and with stakeholders to work towards downsizing the commission to a number that can be easily facilitated and a number that can be effective in decision making, strategic directing etcetera of the commission.”

Dr. El-Adas who also mentioned the existence of a new Bill in the offing -The Ghana AIDS commission Bill - said the commission is looking at initiating the setting up of an HIV and AIDS fund to support the work at the country level.

“We’ve taken advantage of the new bill to also include clauses that is on the advice of parliament to include sections on the establishment of an HIV and AIDS fund which will permit or allow private sector, corporate Ghana, individual philanthropist’s etcetera to also donate to the national response,” she said.

According to her, the draft bill which is being submitted through Cabinet to parliament also has “a section against HIV-related stigma and discrimination which also will help our lawmakers to effect the provisions in our constitution…It’s about country ownership, it’s about us taking ownership of our response and driving it,” she noted.

A number of development partners on Monday, November 25, affirmed their commitment to support the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS response programme.

They include the United Nations (UN) systems in Ghana, PEPFAR, an American international donor organisation, the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation(GIZ) and the Embassy of Japan in Ghana.

To give meaning to their commitment, the partners signed an aide-mémoire with the GAC in Accra last Monday.