{
  "id": 6424632,
  "title": "Ghana AIDS Commission raises concern over 1,300 applicants denied security jobs over HIV status",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/ghana-aids-commission-raises-concern-over-1-300-applicants-denied",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-09T13:08:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-aids-commission-raises-concern-over-1300-applicants-denied-security-jobs-over-hiv-status/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), highlighted that stigma and discrimination continue to be the greatest challenges in the fight against HIV and AIDS. He emphasized that Persons Living with HIV (PLWH) must not face social exclusion but should be able to secure good jobs and lead comfortable lives. As PLWH, they also have the right to receive promotions. Akanbong called for strong stakeholder support to address societal stigma and discrimination against PLWH during the opening of a two-day workshop on strengthening legal assistance organizations' role in serving HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) patients in Abesim, near Sunyani.\n\nThe GAC, together with CHRAJ, UNAIDS, and the Global Fund, organized the workshop which aims to tackle stigma, discrimination, and human rights issues associated with HIV and TB. The event, part of a nationwide series, brought together legal practitioners, traditional leaders, law enforcement officers, educators, and civil society actors.\n\nDespite numerous interventions to combat stigma and discrimination, PLWH continue to endure social exclusion. Dr Akanbong regretted that around 1,300 job applicants were denied positions in security services due to their HIV status. GAC requires robust support from influencers, chiefs, queens, opinion leaders, the media, civil society actors, human rights activists, security services, and everyone to combat HIV-related stigma and discrimination.\n\nMercy Larbi, Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, expressed concern over societal stigmatization, discrimination, and breaches of confidentiality, particularly for vulnerable groups. She noted that social exclusion discourages vulnerable individuals from checking and knowing their HIV status and that stigma and discrimination stem from misconceptions and myths about HIV that need to be addressed.",
  "summary": "The Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, says stigmatization and discrimination remain the biggest burden for the nation in the fight against HIV and AIDS.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}