Accra, Nov.9, GNA- The fight against HIV/AIDS was given a boost in Ghana on Wednesday when stakeholders converged in Accra to develop a National Agenda to regulate Sex Work and HIV in the country. The consultation, an initiative of the Ministry

of Women and Children's Affairs was organised by the Alliance For Reproductive Health Rights, ARHR and was attended by representatives from non-governmental organisations, the Ministry of Health, Ghana Aids Commission, National AIDS Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Ghana Hotels Association and other state institutions.

Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, who chaired the interactive forum, described it as the most appropriate manner to address sex work and HIV/AIDS through consistent and feasible actions.

She said a study carried out by the Ghana National Commission on Children revealed that institutional prostitution was becoming a lucrative business.

The study said commercial sex work increased the threat of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections in children. Hajia Mahama said there was no reliable data on commercial sex in the country, therefore making it difficult for the phenomenon to be reversed especially among children.

Ms Vicky T. Okine, Executive Director of ARHR said a recent data on commercial sex workers indicated that over 80 per cent of the workers in Accra and 75 per cent in Kumasi were infected with HIV/AIDS. =93To be able to address the issues in a meaningful and coherent manner, we need information on the manifestations of sex work in Ghana,=94 she said.

Mr Marius W.de Jong, of the Royal Netherlands sponsors of the consultation expressed surprise why the possession of condoms was used as evidence against some alleged prostitutes who were arrested in Accra. =93One wonders what has gone wrong. Condoms have been promoted by the authorities and I have seen large billboards in front of police stations encouraging policemen to protect themselves.=94 Mr Jong said commercial sex work was very common, hence the need to insulate prostitutes from prosecution.

=93By recognising the reality, dropping the fear for it, it will become easier to discuss the issues at stake to find solutions to deal with the phenomenon of commercial sex. Criminalising it will drive it underground,=94 he said.