Religious leaders have been challenged to stop the “denial” and take a leading role in the campaign against the spread of HIV in the country.

Ms Golda Grace Asante of the Eastern Regional Technical Support Unit of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) threw the challenge during an interaction with members of the Local Council of Churches of Asokore, near Koforidua on Wednesday.

She said due to early association of HIV and AIDS with prostitution and homosexual practices, the Church disassociated itself from the anti HIV campaign and had not been playing the expected role in the campaigns ever since.

Ms Asante said presently, HIV was affecting Christians and even the clergy, adding that if Churches were not playing their expected roles to combat the spread of disease, the situation could get worse.

She said HIV infection could reduce the ability of Christians to honour their financial obligations to the Church because that money would be used to pay for drugs and provide for care and support for the affected people.

The Reverend Minister in charge of the Asokore Methodist Church, Reverend Kweku Poku Kesse, said the mission of the Church was to win Souls for Jesus Christ and that the Church would be failing in its responsibility if the Souls that they had to preach to were being wiped away by HIV and AIDS.

Rev Kesse called for all hands on deck in the fight against HIV and AIDS.