A groundbreaking collaboration between the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) is setting a new precedent by incorporating comprehensive HIV prevention and control training into the curriculum of newly recruited Ghana National Fire Service officers.
This initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2025, aimed at embedding HIV education within youth development and security sector programmes. The first training session took place at the Wungu Fire Service Training School, bringing together around 470 YEA recruits from the Savannah, North East, and Northern Regions.
Northern Regional Manager of GAC, Mr. Nuhu Musah, who facilitated the training, emphasized the strategic importance of targeting young people—particularly those entering security services—with accurate information on HIV prevention, treatment, care, and legal rights. “This marks the beginning of a broader national effort to mainstream HIV education into youth empowerment and service sectors,” he stated.
Participants were equipped with up-to-date knowledge on HIV transmission, prevention strategies such as condom use and PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), and the importance of regular HIV testing. Mr. Musah also introduced the U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) concept, which reassures that effective treatment prevents HIV transmission.
The training highlighted legal protections afforded to people living with HIV under Ghana’s GAC Act 938, including prohibitions against discrimination in employment and education. Mr. Musah warned against mandatory HIV testing for employment and underscored the penalties for discrimination.
Assistant Divisional Officer Grade 1 (ADO I) Charles Adumuah, speaking on behalf of the Training School Commandant, praised the initiative as timely and impactful, calling for its replication across all security and service training institutions nationwide.
This pioneering programme not only empowers youth with vital health knowledge but also reinforces Ghana’s commitment to reducing new HIV infections by integrating prevention into diverse sectors, particularly among vulnerable populations such as young security personnel.
