RICHNESS the WRITER

By Richard Agodzo Ama was in her second year at a senior high school in Accra when she first heard that condoms had “holes designed to fail.” A classmate swore her cousin got pregnant because “condoms don’t work,” while another insisted condoms were “only for promiscuous people.” By the time a health NGO visited their school to speak about HIV prevention, the myths had already travelled faster than the truth, circulating in dormitories, whispered in classrooms, and amplified through WhatsApp voice notes and TikTok commentary. When the facilitators finished their session, students asked bold questions, but no condoms were distributed. “ GES policy ,” a teacher quietly explained. On International Condom Day, we must confront this uncomfortable reality: Ghanaian youth are digitally connected, socially aware, and sexually active, yet many are navigating misinformation without practical tools for protection. Ghana’s New HIV Infections: A Youth Reality According to the Ghana AIDS Commission ...

By Richard Agodzo  The other day, a friend posted a picture of her hospital wristband with the caption: “We thank God for life.” Minutes later, another friend uploaded a screenshot of his bank alert showing a new job and a new salary. Then someone else shared a location tag: “Chilling at Labadi Beach.” Scrolling through it all, I caught myself wondering: Is everything meant to be on social media? Our successes, our sorrows, our private moments, even our live locations. Must they all live on our timelines and statuses? Social media has become Ghana’s virtual town square, the place where we celebrate, mourn, vent, announce, and perform. From TikTok dances to “soft life” posts to tributes and testimonies, it sometimes feels like we live for the next post. However, the truth is that not everything needs to be shared. While sharing can connect us, oversharing can expose us emotionally, socially, and even physically. Among Ghanaian youth today, there’s a growing unease. We are connected ...

By Richard Agodzo In 2024, headlines across Ghana revealed a crisis that should never happen in a public health system committed to saving lives: 182 containers of medical supplies were stranded at the Tema Port, many of them carrying life‑saving antiretroviral medicines (ARVs). What followed was not just a logistical failure; it became a lived crisis for persons living with HIV (PLHIVs) across the country. When bureaucracy becomes a health emergency As the containers sat at the port, communities began to feel the impact almost immediately. Health facilities in several regions reported drug rationing, forcing patients to receive shorter refills or switch regimens unnecessarily. For a treatment that depends on strict adherence, even short disruptions carry serious risks. “I went to the clinic and was told to return in two weeks instead of my usual three months. I was scared. HIV does not wait for paperwork,” a 29‑year‑old woman living with HIV in Greater Accra shared. The delay did more...