GAC Insists HIV Status Cannot Block Job Opportunities
HIV status must not be used to deny employment in Ghana per Act 938. GAC stresses fitness over stigma in workplace hiring.
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has clarified that employers cannot refuse employment based on an individual's HIV status. Director-General Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong stated this protection is enshrined in the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 (Act 938), during an appearance on JoyNews' Konsulting Room 5. The law explicitly prohibits discrimination in recruitment, promotion, or termination of employment, emphasizing that HIV status alone cannot justify exclusion unless a medical condition genuinely affects job performance.
Section 32 of Act 938 permits refusal only when a specific health requirement is proven essential for the role, though general fitness standards remain paramount. Dr Akanbong stressed that HIV-positive individuals undergoing treatment can be healthier than those managing chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension, making them fully capable of productive work. The Commission further condemned mandatory HIV testing during recruitment, reiterating that only a three-stage confirmatory process may determine status.
