30% HIV/AIDS infection does not refer to Ghana Police

Accra, July 22, GNA - The Police Administration on Thursday said the reference to 30 per cent prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS infection among the Personnel of the Service quoted by the Media was a misrepresentation.

A copy of the speech delivered by Mr P.K. Acheampong, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operations (DIGP), at the passing out parade of 172 recruits in Koforidua made available to the GNA in Accra states: "Studies in some countries have shown that infection rate among members of the Security Services is about 30 per cent and that those of us in the Security Services have a higher probability of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and eventually dying, than being killed by any of the other occupational hazards."

A statement accompanying the statement and signed by Inspector A.K. Arthur for the Director of Police Public Relations said: "We want to state categorically that the Deputy IGP did not say" that 30 per cent of Ghanaian Policemen were HIV positive.

A GNA story carried in the Media had wrongly quoted the DIGP as having said that 30 per cent of Ghanaian Police Personnel was HIV positive, when he addressed the parade on Friday.