Regional News of Monday, 18 April 2005

Source: GNA

NJMA rejects Gay population report in Koforidua

Koforidua, April 18, GNA - The New Juaben Municipal Assembly has denied a media report on the gay population in the municipality and described the publication as "misrepresented".

In a rejoinder, the assembly denied, "research has shown that about eight per cent of men who meet at certain entertainment/social places in the municipality are gays".

The rejoinder issued on Monday said what the speaker, Mrs Lilian Baeka, Focal Person on HIV/AIDS in the municipality, said was "about eight per cent of 136 entertainment/social site managers interviewed said they believe gay men meet their sexual partners at the centres". The statement also denied another portion of the report that said Dr B.A. Marfo, the Municipal Director of Health Service, said nine out of 146 antenatal clients who accepted to be tested for HIV/AIDS were "negative" at the prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) Voluntary Counselling and Test (VCT) centre.

The statement said what Dr Marfo said was that "nine (9) tested positive".