John Azumah, Director of Motherly Love Orphanage, has responded to a proposal by First Deputy Minority Whip and Tolon MP, Habib Iddrisu, advocating for mandatory HIV/AIDS testing for prospective employees before they are hired.
Speaking during a donation event by the Chinese Community in Ghana in collaboration with UNESCO on December 27, 2025, John Azumah said it would be wrong to require HIV testing before employment.
He emphasised that people living with HIV are strong and capable of working.
He further warned that taking away jobs from people living with HIV would be discriminatory and could endanger their lives.
“Recently, I heard some news from the Parliament of Ghana. One MP said we should test people for HIV before giving them employment. We say no, it can never be. We’re people who are very strong and can work. We are people who can do any job you give us. So, if we are HIV positive and you take our job away from us, then you are discriminating and pushing us to our early grave,” he said.
Habib Iddrisu proposed mandatory HIV/AIDS testing for all prospective employees, arguing that it should be part of the recruitment and contracting requirements for both public and private organizations in Ghana.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on December 18, 2025, Habib Iddrisu said that the increasing number of HIV infections in the country calls for more structured and deliberate interventions, including workplace-based testing to help people know their status early.
The Tolon MP added that incorporating HIV testing into routine employment health screenings would not only support early detection but also enhance contact tracing and access to treatment.
“I think it should be part of the requirements in every organisation in Ghana. If you want to be given a job opportunity, you should be allowed to be tested. HIV should be part of the health screening so that we’ll be able to know,” he said.
Motherly Love Orphanage was established over 16 years ago to provide a safe and caring environment for children affected by HIV.
The facility cares for HIV-positive orphans who have lost their parents to the disease and are living with the virus themselves.
AK/MA
