The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has warned that denying employment to qualified applicants solely because they are living with HIV may violate the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 (Act 938).
Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News, Director of Policy Planning at the Commission, John Eliasu Mahama, said the law prohibits discrimination against persons living with HIV in employment except in situations where a specific health or medical condition is genuinely required for the job.
He cited Section 32 of Act 938, explaining that an individual’s HIV status should not be used as grounds for refusing employment unless the employer can clearly justify that the position demands a particular medical or clinical condition.
Mr Mahama noted that advances in HIV treatment have transformed the management of the virus, making many older recruitment policies outdated.
He said the widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy has enabled people living with HIV to lead healthy and productive lives.
He also highlighted the U=U principle, which means individuals living with HIV who consistently take antiretroviral medication and achieve an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit the virus.
He added that several countries have reviewed their recruitment policies, including those governing security agencies, to reflect current scientific evidence rather than outdated assumptions.
Mr Mahama further cautioned that an initial reactive HIV test does not automatically confirm an HIV diagnosis. He stressed the importance of confirmatory testing, counselling and linkage to care before any conclusions are reached.
