Ghana has achieved notable progress in the fight against HIV, with new infections and AIDS-related deaths showing a marked decline, according to the 2025 National HIV Estimates and Projections released by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC). The report indicates that new HIV infections fell from 16,189 in 2024 to 13,951 in 2025, while AIDS-related deaths dropped from 13,429 to 12,051 over the same period—a reduction of nearly 14 percent.
Presenting the findings in Accra on Monday, July 20, Isaiah Doe Kwao, Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the GAC, credited the progress to sustained investments in HIV testing, treatment, and care services nationwide. He emphasised that the results reflect the effectiveness of Ghana’s HIV response, while underscoring the need for intensified efforts to meet the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
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“Ghana’s HIV response is making progress, but we still have more work to do to reach epidemic control and ensure that no one is left behind,” Mr Kwao said. The 2025 estimates indicate that about 337,435 people of all ages are currently living with HIV in Ghana. Out of this number, 315,513 are adults aged 15 years and above, while 21,922 are children below 15 years. The report further revealed that 19,528 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 are living with HIV, with young people aged 15 to 24 years accounting for 33,317 cases.
Speaking at the launch, the Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmacelle Akanbong, stressed that preventing new HIV infections remains a critical component of Ghana’s strategy, explaining that every new infection adds to the number of people requiring lifelong treatment and care.
He noted that while the country has made steady progress, achieving epidemic control would require further reductions in new infections and AIDS-related deaths.
“Epidemic control means new infections and AIDS deaths must continue to come down. There should ideally be no new infections, although that is difficult to achieve. The objective is to reduce them to the lowest possible level,” he said. Dr Akanbong projected that new HIV infections could decline further from 13,951 in 2025 to approximately 6,430 by 2030, while AIDS-related deaths could reduce from 12,051 to about 4,893 within the same period, provided prevention programmes, testing services and treatment coverage continue to improve.
He noted that Ghana’s adult HIV prevalence among individuals aged 15 to 49 has continued its downward trend, declining from 1.79 percent in 2015 to 1.40 percent in 2025, with projections indicating a further reduction to 1.18 percent by 2030. Dr. Akanbong explained that this progress is largely the result of expanded access to antiretroviral therapy, earlier initiation of treatment, and stronger patient retention in HIV care.
At the same time, he cautioned that significant challenges persist—particularly in reaching those unaware of their HIV status, scaling up testing services, and maintaining a reliable supply of life-saving medicines. He urged deeper collaboration among government agencies, development partners, healthcare providers, and communities to consolidate the gains achieved and advance toward the global target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Source: Patricia Boakye
