A traditionalist, Togbe Richard Kwame Ayittey, has appealed to the traditional authorities and religious leaders in the country to help educate Ghanaians about the causes and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

“You could make significant impact using your influence to ensure that people refrain from acts that slow down efforts to stem the spread of this pandemic disease.”

Togbe Ayittey, of GAKPO’s healing centre, located at Otwebediadua near Suhum, made the appeal during an HIV/AIDS public education campaign at Akim Oda, in the Birim Central Municipality.

The campaign took him to more than 20 Junior and Senior High Schools, markets and communities in the Eastern Region, educating them on the dangers of the disease and how to prevent one from contracting it.

He said HIV-AIDS was fast spreading and advised that every effort should be made to curb the menace.

He urged the youth to abstain from sex and to be faithful to their partners or use a condom since the AIDS virus could not be spread by casual contact.

The traditionalist said the disease was a social and developmental problem that affected all facets of life.

“AIDS is not a healthy problem since poverty, social exclusion and related concerns predispose people to irresponsible living.”

He later told journalists who interacted with him that be believed in God and that before he accepted to heal both spiritual and physical ailments, he did consult his oracles (shrine) while he made referrals to the hospitals.

Togbe Ayittey, who inherited the shrine from his father, Hunorvi Kwasi Amaga, alias Danger, from Amasaman was emphatic that after a successful healing, he only charges little.

Togbe Ayittey, 43, a herbalist and consultant in spiritual ailments, started practicing over 12 years ago and has offices at Amasaman, Oda-Nkwantanum, Asamankese, with Otwebediadua as his headquarters.