Dr Aaron Kumah, a senior lecturer at the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development in Kumasi, has accused the Ministry of the Interior of acting unjustly by using HIV status to deny applicants entry into the security services.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Dr Kumah emphasised that this is a critical human rights issue, pointing out that HIV is not the same as AIDS and that people living with the virus remain perfectly capable of working.
He urged the government to consider compensating those affected by the decision and encouraged the disqualified individuals to challenge the move in court, asserting that they have every legal right to do so.
The lecturer argued that if the government genuinely believes HIV should bar someone from security service employment, it must take the matter to Parliament to amend the legislation, stating explicitly within the law that persons living with HIV cannot be recruited into any of the nation’s security services.
He warned that the ministry’s current approach will only discourage young people from participating in future recruitment drives. Furthermore, Dr Kumah questioned whether serving officers who contract the virus or develop other medical conditions would similarly be discharged from their duties.
“What has happened is a human rights violation. I will therefore ask the government to come again. The action by the government has no basis in law. It is unconstitutional.”
He maintained that people living with HIV are strong and, with the right medication, counselling, and support systems, can continue to perform their duties without any hindrance.
Dr Kumah suggested that the disqualifications are part of a clear scheme orchestrated by the government to artificially reduce the overwhelming volume of applicants.
He lamented that authorities initially used the excuse of mental health and drug-related issues, and are now using HIV status to eliminate candidates.
Even if health status were to be used as a criterion, he noted that authorities should not have made the issue public, but should have instead quietly engaged the affected persons, counselled them, and provided them with medication.
“What has happened is discriminatory, unconstitutional and an infringement on the fundamental rights of the applicants. I will therefore encourage the affected persons to sue the government and seek compensation because they have been deprived of their right to work. The laws that establish these security services cannot override the constitution which guarantees the right to work, unless the condition involved is easily transmitted by bodily contact.”
Dr Aaron Kumah concluded that if the government believes a person with HIV is unqualified to join the security services, it must submit a bill to Parliament to be passed with justifiable reasons.
He noted that even if they wish to try and justify it through the lens of stigmatisation and discrimination, that is for the legislative process to decide, concluding that as it stands at the moment, no such law exists.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana