Gender Activist, Diana Adiko, has indicated the lack of basic requirements which is the contributing factor to young girls engaging in transactional sex is unfortunately still in existence. Based on this, she believes these girls should not be blamed for the activity they engage in.
Speaking on the current disclosure that girls are being lured to have sex with noodles (Indomie),;she stated that she will not fault them because the lack of some necessities such as food,;shelter and medication is what has pushed a lot of young girls to engage in transactional sex.
“I am disappointed but I am not surprised because transactional sex is not necessarily a new practice. It’s gone on for a very long time and keeps taking different forms but it’s been around for a while. I am disappointed that it continues and as a country we are unable to surmount it.
“I am not surprised because the factors that are contributing to it probably still exist until it is addressed”.
Diana Adiko
Her remarks follow the finding by the Ghana AIDS Commission that some men are reportedly buying noodles for young girls from under privileged households in exchange for sex.
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She therefore indicated the need to have a discussion on the nation’s social protection system, social welfare system, gender-based violence and abuse on women and girls before the nation can be able to get over transactional sex as a problem.
“There is limited protection; so girls are not protecting themselves and it is increasing HIV and all forms of sexually transmitted infections. Also, the issue of transactional sex is also preventing girls from going to school”.
Diana Adiko
Transactional sex leading cause of HIV/AIDS
The Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Kyeremeh Atuahene, disclosed that the Ghana AIDS commission listed transactional sex as one of the leading causes of HIV/AIDS in the country.
Mr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, revealed that some men are reportedly buying noodles (Indomie) for young girls from underprivileged households in exchange for sex. He said this is one of the main factors driving Ghana’s high HIV prevalence rate.
“It can be even between students: the good ones helping the less fortunate ones and demanding sex. It can be in the workplace, where a young lady or young man wants a job and the boss says, ‘Then you have to give me sex if you want to have it.’ Recently, some chiefs banned the use of Okadas in their town because they said that some Okada riders are impregnating the girls because they just buy them Indomie or give them GHC10 and that’s it”.
Kyeremeh Atuahene
Mr. Atuahene said the Ghana Aids Commission will soon conduct a study in communities with high numbers of HIV/Aids to give the Commission insight into the cause of Aids infections in those areas nationwide. He added that the communities dotted along the coast and middle belt of Ghana are the ones recording the highest incidence of HIV.
