Parliamentarians express concern about use of AIDS funds

Accra, Oct. 28, GNA- Members of Parliament on Tuesday expressed concern about the abuse and politicisation of the funds for the HIV/AIDS campaign by Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and some District Chief Executives to create public awareness of the disease in the country.

They contended that since the CBO's are groups sponsored and funded by the Ghana Aids Commission and intended among others to create public awareness about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, and to educate the public about the dangers, there was the need for transparency in the disbursement of the funds.

Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC- Hohoe South made a statement alerting parliament and the Ghana AIds Commission on the possible abuse and politicisation of the CBO's.

He said the CBO's are a means of decentralising to the community level, the operations of the AIDS Commission but unfortunately the good intention is being seriously abused and if care was not taken its main objective would be defeated.

Mr Kedem said recent reports have indicated that a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and CBO's have been found to have embezzled about 1.4 trillion cedis allocated to them from the Ghana AIDS Response Fund (GARFUND).

He said what was even more serious was that the offices of the CBO's could not be traced because they vanished immediately after they received their grants.

Mr Kedem said the most disturbing aspect of the CBO's is their alleged politicisation. The CBO's even though sponsored and funded by the AIDS Commission are more or less the creation of the District Chief Executives.

He said the perception has gained grounds especially in the Districts where the DCE's are aspiring to become Members of Parliament and a random investigation indicates that sitting MPs across the political divide are potential targets of the CBO's.

Mr Kedem alleged that some of the CBO leaders have suddenly come into wealth through the GARFUND and have launched themselves into politics and their first target is the parliamentary seat. He said such a beautiful and innovative concept has in some Districts been abused mainly because of the absence of any serious monitoring system.

Mr Kedem said to maintain the integrity and credibility of the CBO's and also to depoliticise them, he suggested for the consideration of AIDS Commission that the CBO's should rather be organised and controlled by the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development or the District Health Services.

Mr Kwasi Akomea Kyeremateng, NPP Afigya-Sekyere East who is also a member of the AIDS Commission however denied that the CBO's were being politicised He said they were created to support and create public awareness of AIDS.

He said the Commission was doing a very odd work in the control of the disease but so far it has not received any reports that funds were being used politically even though 17 out of the 541 CBO's have defaulted in the proper use of funds allocated to them.

Mr Kyeremanteng said it is incumbent on MPs to ensure that the CBO's utilise the fund properly to benefit the people and that the Commission is to assist parliament to monitor and assist the CBO's in its activities.

Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, NDC-Avenor said the CBO's were total disaster especially at the district level as some of them have been set up as family companies out to enrich themselves. He said even the focal persons at the district level are afraid to present their reports adding that " we want to fight the AIDS menace but it shouldn't be politicised and made the preserve of any families otherwise its impact cannot be felt in the society".

Mr Adjaho said the AIDS Commission should set up a monitoring unit and ensure transparency in the disbursement of the funds by not putting it in the exclusive control of the District Chief Executives.

Mr Joseph Akudibillah, Ind. Garu/Tempane and Deputy Minister of Defence said about 95 per cent of the people are now aware of the AIDS and that it is not true that activities of the CBO's have failed.

Mr Alex Kwaku Korankye, NPP-Asante Akim South said some of the CBO's are abusing the funds and have used the money for their personal or private enterprises.

He said the impact of the CBO's on the ground is very minimal except the printing of posters and T-shirts that are distributed to a selected few in the communities while the actual public education is not encouraging.

Mr John Mahama, NDC-Bole said as a founding member of the AIDS Commission, the goal is to create awareness, check mode of transmission of the disease and how to bring about change in behaviour among the people.

He said the people needed to have change in their lifestyles while the Commission needs to work proactively to achieve the needed results. Mr Mahama said the funds for the prevention or minimising the spread of the disease is a loan and not a grant and the Commission must put in place a mechanism to monitor the activities of the CBO's for it to achieve the needed results.

Nana Asante-Frempong, NPP-Kwabre expressed concern about the marginalisation of MP's in all activities of the CBO's at the district level.

Mr Modestus Ahiable, NDC-Ketu North said parliament should be informed as to how many CBO's are engaged in the sensitisation programme in the districts since some District Chief Executives are not even aware that monies have been released to their districts for education of the public on the menace.

Mr Brandford K Adu, NPP-Okere said it is unfortunate that the honesty levels of Ghanaians was now been eroded and that monies meant for fighting such an important programme is being diverted into personal use.

Mr Ken Dzirasah, NDC- South Tongu and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament drew the public attention to certain aspects of the disease which if not checked can have a disastrous effect on the community. He said a girl of 14 years who is a virgin was diagnosed to be HIV positive and after checks it was realised that she had the virus through cropping her hair at a barber's shop adding that the public should be guided properly against any mishap.

Mr Dzirasah called for a specific investigation apparatus to be set up to unravel the extent of misuse of the funds meant to fight the menace else the country would not only be losing such colossal sums to individuals but its purposes will be defeated.