Mrs Esther Agbodo Nyamalor, an HIV/AIDS campaigner has called on the government to consider encouraging pharmaceutical companies in the country to produce condoms locally.
Mrs Nyamalor, who is the Executive Director of the Youth AID Ghana (YAG), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Tema, said that the move would not only make them produce the required size of condom for Ghanaian men but would also help to open up industries.
Mrs Nyamalor said experts had indicated that most condoms on the Ghanaian market are imported from Asian countries and are not of the required size for African men.
"The physic, structure and make-up of Asian men are different from African men." She was answering questions from students at a day's workshop on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and drug abuse jointly organised by the YAG and the Abibimman Foundation, an NGO also based in Tema for students of selected second cycle schools.
The workshop was held to mark the celebration of World Mental Health Day, which is under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).
The students were drawn from Tema Secondary, Methodist Day, Ashaiman Secondary, Our Lady of Mercy, Datus, Domino Academy, Good Shepherd Secondary Technical and Deks Experimental schools.
Mrs Nyamalor called for the withdrawal of condoms produced by the Asian and European countries from the Ghanaian market because they are ineffective and could compound problems as they could easily burst.
Mrs Patience Arthur-Baidoo, an Assistant Director of Education of the Tema Education Directorate, advised students to show love for each other by being study partners and not go beyond it for intimacy.
After listening to the talk and viewing AIDS victims on video, the students got scared and requested that health workers go to schools to educate the youth while the AIDS campaigners must also move to the remotest parts of the country to impart the knowledge to the unfortunate people who often do not have access to these vital information.
