1 April 2009
editorial
The Northern Regional House of Chiefs has observed that Ghana can successfully win her fight against the spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS, if traditional rulers are encouraged to join the campaign. According to the House, traditional rulers command a lot of respect and trust of the people under their jurisdiction and could, therefore, serve as catalyst of change in the lives of the people, especially in their sexual behaviours.
The Registrar of the house, Mr. John Babinah made the statement at a forum organised for the Chiefs and people of Tatale, a border town in the Zabzugu-Tatale District to sensitise the traditional rulers and also educate their people on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. According to Mr. John Babinah, the HIV/AIDS disease had for the past 23 years been a setback to the socio-economic development of Ghana. Many of the country's energetic youth between the ages of 15 and 45 had either been struck down or killed by the disease, while others are rendered orphans.
The HIV/AIDS is an albatross hanging on the neck of developing countries. Here in Ghana, though the awareness has been created, we still have worrisome statistics due to the problem with behavioural change. The government has come out with all form of strategies, yet the people would simply not change. The Chronicle, therefore, supports the call by the Northern chiefs, asking the government to get them involved in the fight against the canker.
As noted by the Registrar, chiefs are revered in our society, therefore, whatever advice they give is well received by their subjects. Their role in the fight against the deadly disease especially in the hinterland cannot, therefore, be underestimated. It is an undeniable fact that sometimes our youthful brothers and sisters in the rural areas do not listen to whatever advice given to them by other persons.
We do not think these people can adopt the same attitude towards their chiefs, hence the need to use the latter in the fight against the global disease. Ghana is a poor country, therefore, we cannot afford to use our scarce resources to import anti retrovirus drugs. As the adage goes 'prevention is better than cure'.
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