NGO calls on chief to ban wake-keeping

to help curb AIDS spread

Prang (B/A) Nov 30, GNA - Volta Lake Improvement Project, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) committed to the welfare of the people in the Volta basin, has called on traditional authorities to ban funeral wake-keepings to strengthen the crusade against the spread of HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancies.

Togbe Aflo 11, chairman of the NGO made the call at Prang in Brong Ahafo at a forum organized in conjunction with the Ghana AIDS Commission under the Volta Overbank HIV/Aids Awareness programme.

The forum, which was part of activities to mark the Nkyifie Yam festival of the chiefs and people of Prang Traditional area, was under the theme, "Impact of HIV/AIDS on Overbank Communities".

Togbe Aflo noted that some churches had already banned wake-keepings in efforts to help eradicate immoral and reckless behaviours, especially among the youth and traditional authorities, as custodians of the nation culture and who wield great influence in their areas could take a cue and supplement government efforts to help the people to remain healthy.

"I will say that during our field work, (in their area of operations) we have realized that there is a record increase in out-patients (he did not give any figures) to the hospitals and clinics.

"This is attributed to the fact that a lot of teenage girls especially get pregnant a few days after major funerals".

Togbe Aflo 11, who is chief of Mafi Aflokope, also attributed the spread of the pandemic to the rural migration to market places, where he said sleeping conditions were deplorable and thus sex was rife, as well as long distance drivers and traders who were exposed to the risk of casual sex.

He said the NGO at the beginning of the year won a contract with Ghana AIDS Commission to spread the message on the pandemic within the Atebubu constituency and had so far trained 20 field officers and 35 volunteers.

We are presently concerned with the economic and social activities of the people along the Volta Lake from Akosombo to Bamboi in the north, he said.

The indiscriminate sex among the youth is destroying our future leaders and it is high time we all put our shoulders to the wheel to stem the tide, the NGO Chairman said and gave the promise that the organisation would ensure that the message reached every settlement in its area of operations.

Togbe Aflo said the NGO had registered commercial sex workers in its area of operation, especially at Yeji and was in contact with St Mathias Catholic Hospital for them to attend regular check-ups to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Our problem is financing, he said and appealed to international NGOs and agencies to assist the NGO "since commercial sexual activities cannot be eliminated but could be practised as in the developed countries".

Mr Ibrahim Kwaku Acheampong, Brong Ahafo Regional Focal Person on HIV/AIDS reiterated the pandemic had no cure and appealed to the youth to heed to advice and be wary of activities that could lure them into casual sex.

Let's support government efforts to stamp out the pandemic from the country, he added.

Nana Kwadwo Nyarko 111, Omanhene of Prang Traditional Area called on his people to, as they celebrated the festival with joy, abstain from activities that would make them to contract HIV/AIDS. GNA