By Ewurabena Paha
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has released its latest National and Sub-national HIV Estimates, showing that the Bono Region recorded the highest HIV prevalence in the country, while the Greater Accra Region reported the highest number of new infections.
The report shows that national HIV prevalence stood at 1.4 per cent, with 337,435 people living with HIV in Ghana. National new infections stood at 13,951, including 1,227 among children, while 12,051 AIDS-related deaths were recorded in 2025. Children aged zero to 14 accounted for 1,518 of the deaths.
According to the report, the North East Region recorded the lowest HIV prevalence at 0.7 per cent.
Progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets stood at 70 per cent for people living with HIV who know their status, 81 per cent for those diagnosed, and 92 per cent for those achieving viral suppression.
Of the 337,435 people living with HIV, 21,922 are children aged zero to 14 years, while 315,513 are adults aged 15 years and above. Of the 12,051 AIDS-related deaths recorded in 2025, 1,518 were among children aged zero to 14 years, while 10,533 occurred among adults aged 15 years and above.
Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ghana AIDS Commission, Mr Isaiah Doe Kwao, said the estimates deepen understanding of the epidemic, highlight emerging trends and existing gaps, and enable evidence-based decision-making at both the national and sub-national levels.
Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmacelle Akanbong, said Ghana has made notable progress in expanding HIV prevention, testing, treatment and viral suppression, adding that those achievements were the result of the collective efforts of government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, implementing partners, researchers, health workers and communities.
He said the estimates were also a reminder that the epidemic remained uneven across regions, districts and age groups, stressing the need to reduce those disparities and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare.
The Technical Lead for HIV, TB and Hepatitis at the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office, Dr Kafui Senya, said the global HIV response had achieved remarkable progress, with new HIV infections declining by about 40 per cent and AIDS-related deaths falling by about 58 per cent compared with 2010 levels.
He cautioned, however, that the epidemic was not yet over, explaining that about 1.3 million new HIV infections and 630,000 AIDS-related deaths were recorded globally in 2024.
Programme Manager of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, Dr Emmanuel A.A. Teviu, called for the estimates to be used as evidence to redouble efforts towards achieving the 95-95-95 targets. He said efforts must remain anchored in the belief that every individual affected by HIV deserves access to quality, dignified and equitable healthcare.
Chairman of the Governing Board of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Kakra Essamuah, said the government remained steadfast in its commitment to the national HIV response. He added that government would continue to strengthen domestic leadership, integrate HIV priorities into broader national health and development agendas, and support innovative, evidence-driven approaches to improve service delivery and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all.
