Ghana Records Over 15,000 New HIV Infections; Experts Urge Action

Ghana is facing a persistent public health challenge with HIV and AIDS, as evidenced by the latest national estimates for 2024. The country recorded 15,290 new HIV infections and 12,614 AIDS-related deaths during the year. These figures underscore the ongoing burden of the epidemic, with a total of 334,721 people living with HIV.

Women and young females continue to bear a significant share of the epidemic's impact. In 2024, women accounted for 68.5% of those living with HIV and 67.4% of new infections. The situation is particularly concerning among young people aged 15 to 24, where young females represent 74.1% of those living with HIV and a stark 83.1% of new infections, indicating a widening gender disparity.

Experts are calling for immediate and targeted interventions to address these trends. Ms. Olivia Graham, Ashanti Regional Technical Coordinator for the Ghana AIDS Commission, emphasized the urgent need for action. While Ghana has achieved remarkable success in preventing mother-to-child transmission, reaching 99.3% coverage in 2024, the overall progress towards the global 95-95-95 HIV targets remains insufficient.

The data reveals that only 68% of people living with HIV know their status, and 69% of those diagnosed are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Crucially, ART coverage among adults stands at 47.5%, meaning more than half of adults living with HIV are not receiving essential treatment. AIDS-related deaths among young people also saw a concerning 17% increase from 2023 to 2024.

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The figures underscored the urgent need for targeted interventions to address t