Minister asks queens to address high rate of HIV/AIDS pandemic

Koforidua Nov. 27, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, on Thursday expressed worry about the high rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the region.

He stressed that the region was the "First on the HIV/AIDS league table in the country", and challenged the Association of Queens in the area to deal with the situation.

He said queens had to play their advocacy roles effectively to help reduce the rate of infection, especially among the youth. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo was speaking during a meeting with members of the association at his office in Koforidua, who called on him to formally welcome him to office.

He tasked them to address the maternal mortality rate in the region, which for three years running was the highest the country. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo observed that the situation could be attributed to teenage pregnancies resulting in complications and asked the queens to intensify sex education among the youth to help reverse the situation. He also appealed for concerted efforts to arrest the falling standards of education in the region, especially in the Akuapem area where some Basic Schools were scoring zero percent in the Basic Education Certificate Examination.

The regional minister described the situation as unacceptable especially at the time government was investing huge sums of money in education. He said head teachers whose schools perform below average would be sanctioned.

He advised parents to provide the needed learning materials for their wards to enhance their studies. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo indicated his readiness to assist the association to get a secretariat and bring members together to play their role in the governance system of the country.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said President John Evans Atta Mills was determined to involve more women in his administration and tasked the association to encourage women to take active part in politics. He announced the intention of the government to give allowance to queens in the next budget statement to enable them to play their leadership roles effectively.

The regional minister advised them not to allow politics to divide their ranks, saying "You are the ones who would bring the people together". Baafour Oppong Waa II, Krontihemaa of Akwamu and Secretary of the association, said queens had a bigger role to play in the socio-economic transformation of society but observed that for far too long they had been sidelined by chiefs.

She noted that queens are the ones the youth seeks audience with and gave the assurance that they would embark on intensive awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS and other negative issues.