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Showing posts from June, 2025

When Opportunity Discriminates: The Hidden Cost of a Scholarship

By NAP+ Ghana Editorial  On June 20, 2025, the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat announced a seemingly generous opportunity: scholarships for Ghanaian students to study in Serbia under the “World in Serbia” programme. However, hidden within the eligibility criteria was a clause that has sparked national outrage and dismay among advocates for human rights and equality — a requirement for applicants to present proof of being HIV-negative. A section of the scholarship notice by Ghana Scholarships Secretariat   At a glance, this might seem like a minor detail in a long list of requirements. But for those living with HIV in Ghana, it is an alarming reminder that the battle against stigma is far from over. This clause doesn't merely ask for a general medical certificate; it specifically requires evidence that an applicant is HIV negative. Such a requirement is discriminatory, medically unnecessary, and a direct violation of human rights principles. The Ghana Network of Persons Living w...

“I Found My Voice Online”: Youth Stories and the Call to Bridge the Digital Divide in Ghana’s HIV Response

 By NAP+ Ghana Editorial "When I got diagnosed with HIV, I didn’t know who to talk to. It was on social media that I found someone like me—young, positive, and thriving. That saved my life."  – Ama, 22, Accra Ama’s story is the reality for many young people living with HIV in Ghana—navigating stigma, loneliness, and silence, until they stumble upon a digital lifeline. For Ama, the internet became a window to hope. But for many others, the digital divide remains a wall—blocking access to critical information, peer support, and even life-saving services. On May 29, 2025, the Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV (NAP+ Ghana) officially launched its Digital Health and Rights Project alongside the research report titled “Paying the Cost of Connection: Human Rights of Young Adults in the Digital Age in Colombia, Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam.” Held in Accra, the event brought together partners, stakeholders, UN bodies, civil society organisations, and youth digital rights advocates,...