Ghana records 13,951 new HIV infections in 2025

Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Isaiah Doe Kwao, has disclosed that Ghana recorded 13,951 new HIV infections in 2025, with the Greater Accra Region recording the highest number of new cases and the North East Region the lowest.

Presenting the 2025 National HIV Estimates and Projections at a dissemination meeting on July 21, 2026, Kwao said 1,227 of the new infections were among children aged between zero and 14 years, while 12,724 were recorded among adults aged 15 years and above.

He also disclosed that 12,051 AIDS-related deaths were recorded in 2025, including 1,518 children and 10,533 adults.

According to the estimates, 337,435 people were living with HIV in Ghana as of 2025.

Of that figure, 221,707, representing 65.7 per cent, were females, while 115,728, representing 34.3 per cent, were males.

Children aged zero to 14 years accounted for 21,922 of the totals, with adults aged 15 years and above making up 315,513.

Kwao said 236,143 people knew their HIV status, 190,413 were on antiretroviral therapy (ART), while 174,692 had achieved viral suppression.

He explained that Ghana's progress towards the global 95-95-95 HIV targets currently stood at 70-81-92.

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Kwao said the country had recorded an estimated reduction in HIV prevalence, new infections and AIDS-related deaths, attributing the gains to increased uptake of ART services.

"There is the need to sustain efforts at eliminating HIV and AIDS, which include increased awareness, testing and access to treatment to ensure the country achieves epidemic control," he said.

Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmacelle Akanbong, said Ghana had made notable progress in expanding HIV prevention, testing, treatment and viral suppression through the collective efforts of government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, researchers, health workers and communities.

He, however, noted that the epidemic remained uneven across regions, districts and age groups, stressing the need to address disparities in access to HIV services.

"The estimates should inform strategic investment, strengthen our health systems, enhance service delivery and ensure that no population or geographic area is left behind," he noted.

The Technical Lead for HIV, TB and Hepatitis at the WHO Country Office, Dr Kafui Senya, said although global HIV infections had declined by about 40 per cent and AIDS-related deaths by 58 per cent since 2010, the epidemic was far from over.

He said about 1.3 million new HIV infections and 630,000 AIDS-related deaths were recorded globally in 2024, underscoring the need to sustain efforts to end the epidemic.

The Programme Manager of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, Dr Emmanuel A A Teviu, urged stakeholders to use the estimates to intensify efforts towards achieving the 95-95-95 targets, while Governing Board Chair of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Kakra Essamuah, reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening the national HIV response through evidence-based interventions and equitable access to quality healthcare.

MRA/VPO

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