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AfWOD urges tackling socio-economic barriers fuelling HIV spread
Ms Precious Hamidu, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Women Opportunities and Development (AfWOD), has called on the nation to tackle the socio-economic factors contributing to the spread of HIV and AIDS in the country.
She said existing gender inequality, poverty, and limited HIV and AIDS education and inaccessible healthcare services in parts of the country remained key barriers that the nation needed to overcome to bring the spread of the diseases to the barest minimum.
“We must therefore empower women and girls, ensuring that they have the requisite knowledge and resources to protect themselves,” she stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani to commemorate the 2024 celebration of the World AIDS Day.
She highlighted the importance of continuous efforts to fight HIV and AIDS in the country by supporting people living with the virus to access medication and intensifying the public campaign against the disease for people to protect themselves from infections.
Each year, on December 1, the world commemorates World AIDS Day, instituted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) where people around the globe unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Ms Hamidu indicated that the country had made significant progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS, saying reports from the Ghana AIDS Commission showed that the nation had witnessed a decline in new HIV infections, with an estimated 19,000 new cases in 2022, compared to 21,000 in 2021.
“Despite this progress, the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over,” she stated, saying the current statistic from the Ghana Health Services revealed that approximately 350,000 people were living with HIV in the country, with women accounting for 60 per cent.
Ms Hamidu indicated that the prevalence rate among adults aged 15-49 was estimated at 1.7 per cent, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
AfWOD remains committed to working with local communities, government agencies, and international partners to enhance HIV prevention and treatment programmes, she stated, saying her organisation also focused on reducing stigma and discrimination, which remain significant challenges for those living with HIV.
“Stigma and discrimination continue to hinder our efforts and we must therefore create an environment where everyone feels safe to seek testing and treatment without fear of judgment or social exclusion.” -GNA
About 200 company secretaries, governance professionals and institutional leaders will gather in Accra for the ‘Company Secretaries Summit’ next month.
It is aimed at strengthening governance practices and enhance boardroom effectiveness across the country.
The summit, which is scheduled for July 16 at the Labadi Beach Hotel seeks to equip governance professionals with the knowledge, skills, and networks required to navigate the increasingly complex demands of modern corporate leadership.
It will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions focusing on emerging governance trends, boardroom dynamics, regulatory compliance, digital transformation, and stakeholder expectations.
According to the convener, Catherine Engmann, the summit comes at a critical time when governance professionals are under growing pressure to support sound decision-making, strengthen governance culture, and respond effectively to changing institutional and regulatory environments.
“This gathering is not just another conference. It is a platform for governance leaders who are already operating at the highest level and intend to stay there,” she said.
She noted that the programme was designed to provide participants with practical tools, fresh insights, and valuable professional connections.
According to Ms Engmann, a major highlight of the event will be the awards ceremony, which will recognise individuals and organisations that have demonstrated excellence in governance practice and made significant contributions to improving board effectiveness and corporate accountability.
She mentioned that the summit will also offer participants an opportunity to benchmark their practices against industry standards, exchange ideas with peers, and explore innovative approaches to governance challenges.
Beyond the formal sessions, the event is expected to foster networking and collaboration among governance professionals, helping to strengthen governance practices across Ghana’s corporate and institutional landscape.
Speaking about the vision behind the initiative, Ms Engmann, said the summit was inspired by the need to create a dedicated platform that recognises the critical role played by company secretaries and governance professionals.
According to her, the Company Secretaries’ Summit and Awards reflects her conviction that Ghana’s governance professionals deserve an annual platform where they can engage in meaningful discussions, build strategic relationships, and receive recognition for their contributions to effective governance.
Registration for the summit, she said was currently open, with interested professionals encouraged to secure their participation ahead of the event.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
-1 cup dried soya beans
-4–5 cups for water (for blending)
-Extra water for soaking
-Sugar, honey or dates (optional, for sweetness)
-Vanilla extract (optional)
Preparation
-Pick through the beans to remove stones or damaged seeds and rinse thoroughly
-Place them in a large bowl and cover with plenty of water. Soak for at least eight hours or overnight to soften it to blend easier
– After soaking, rub the beans with your hands as the skin begins to remove
– Removing the skins helps reduce the ‘beany’ taste and improves texture
– Put the soaked beans into a blender with 4–5 cups of clean water
-Blend until smooth and milky. (You may need to do this in batches depending on your blender size).
– Using a clean muslin cloth or fine sieve, strain the blended mixture into a pot. (Squeeze well to extract as much liquid as possible).
-The leftover pulp is called okara. Don’t throw it away — it can be used in baking, porridge, or even added to stews.
– Place the strained milk on medium heat and make it boil. Stir continuously to prevent burning or overflowing.
– Allow it to boil for at least 20–25 minutes. Proper boiling removes the raw taste and neutralises natural compounds that can upset the stomach.
-Once boiled a little sugar or honey. Pulse.gh
Health benefits of Soya beans
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