The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation and Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has strongly criticised the Ghana AIDS Commission over what he describes as the distribution of lubricants to men who have sex with men.
Speaking during parliamentary deliberations on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025 on Thursday, Mr George—who is also a lead sponsor of the bill—argued that such interventions are misplaced and do not align with the Commission’s core mandate of combating HIV.
He questioned the justification behind the approach, suggesting that it contradicts public health priorities.
“We have evidence of Ghana AIDS Commission officers meeting with pro-LGBTQ groups and giving them lubricants. If the Ghana AIDS Commission is supposed to fight HIV, why are you giving lubricants to men to have anal sex with men?” he stated.
Mr George rejected explanations that the distribution is aimed at reducing the spread of HIV among high-risk populations. According to him, such measures rather risk encouraging the very practices they are intended to control.
“And the excuse given is that these are people who already have HIV, and so they don’t want them to spread it. So they are giving them lubricants. That in itself is an activity that continues to perpetuate anal sex between men,” he argued.
He further maintained that Ghana’s limited public health resources should be redirected toward more urgent healthcare needs, particularly maternal care. He cited the lack of adequate facilities for pregnant women as a more pressing concern.
“If they really want to fund public health, they should go and give maternal beds for women who do not have beds for delivery. This one, we won’t open the door,” he added.
His comments come amid renewed debate over the controversial bill, which has sparked widespread national and international discussions on public health policy, human rights, and the allocation of state resources.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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