Ghana is bidding to host the 23rd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), slated for December 2025.
Ghana is in the race with South Africa to host the conference, and organisers have visited both countries to assess their readiness to host the event.
A delegation from the Society for AIDS in Africa, the organisers of the conference, paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House to discuss the conference.
The leadership of the society that visited Jubilee House was led by Dr. David Parirentyatwa, the former Minister for Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe, who is the President of the Society for AIDS in Africa.
The President of the Society, addressing President Akufo-Addo, said that the Society for AIDS in Africa is the custodian of ICASA.
He said their mandate is to promote the fight against HIV and AIDS on the continent, which they have been doing for the past 35 years.
“So, we have come here because when bids are made, and we received a bid from Ghana, when bids are made to host ICASA, we then look at the countries that have made the bid.
“And then we visit their countries to assess how suitable and prepared they are. In this particular case, there are two countries now remaining: Ghana and South Africa,” Dr. Parirentyatwa said.
He said that as part of the assessment, the team toured the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), “and we are pleased that it’s up to the standards that I think we would require. But we then said that in any country that we go to, it’s always important to get commitment at the highest level. And that is why perhaps we are here, Your Excellency.”
The delegation informed President Akufo-Addo that it would be of outmost importance that he invites colleague presidents on the continent to the conference should Ghana win the bid to host it.
IMPORTANCE
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in response to the remarks by the delegation, highlighted the efforts Ghana was making with regards to HIV/AIDS.
According to him, the malignant disease is one Ghana has taken very seriously, and a lot of work has been done in the country.
“Perhaps we should get the Minister to run through quickly some of the data as to what has been done in the country. But it is a fight that we have highlighted, which we feel very strongly about and, therefore, the opportunity to hold the conference here in Accra will be something that we will welcome very much. That is why we have put in a bid to host this conference,” President Akufo-Addo said.
He continued, “Obviously, the hosting of the conference directs the minds of the entire world not just to the disease, but also to the location of the conference in terms of our contribution to the fight against it. That is something that we find very fruitful to highlight.”
On the request to invite other presidents to the conference, President Akufo-Addo told the delegation that he would not be in office at the time, so his successor would do that if Ghana wins the bid.
“I’m happy that so far you are satisfied with what you’ve seen in terms of facilities and, generally, the atmosphere and culture of our country. We would welcome the opportunity to host this conference,” President Akufo-Addo remarked.
STATISTICS
The Minister for Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, took the delegation through data about how the fight has been conducted in Ghana. According to the Minister for Health, Ghana is one of the best-performing countries when it comes to managing HIV/AIDS.
He said the national prevalence is 1.53, one of the lowest on the continent.
“I think we can continue to be a role model for the participants that will visit Ghana in 2025,” he said.
The Minister for Health said that “the atmosphere is also good for such a conference. So I will like to thank Mr. President for this audience and to encourage the Society for AIDS so that we (Ghana) will have the maiden one in Accra, as well as the 23rd International Conference.”
