3 for 50 Pesewas: What to know about the nationwide condom vending machines deployment

The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has announced plans to deploy condom vending machines across the country by the last quarter of 2026 as part of efforts to improve access to condoms and strengthen HIV/AIDS prevention.

The machines will be installed at strategic public locations, including lorry stations, mosques, stadia and shopping malls, allowing people to obtain condoms discreetly without having to purchase them directly from vendors.

The Commission also plans to extend the initiative to public institutions by installing vending machines in washrooms at ministries, departments, agencies and financial institutions under its national HIV and wellness policy.

According to a myjoyonline report on July 27, 2026, the announcement was made during a dissemination meeting in Accra on the 2026 HIV Estimates and Projections, where stakeholders reviewed the state of Ghana's HIV epidemic, assessed gaps in the national response and outlined future interventions.

The Commission said the vending machine initiative forms part of a broader condom and lubricant strategy aimed at increasing access to HIV prevention tools while tailoring distribution methods to suit the needs of different communities.

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Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, explained that the machines would be customised to suit the characteristics of the communities where they would be installed.

"The machines will not all be the same. Depending on the peculiar characteristics of a local population, the machine deployed could be electronically operated or manually administered," he said.

Dr Akanbong recalled that Ghana had previously introduced condom vending machines that dispensed packs of three condoms for 50 pesewas. However, the initiative was discontinued after many of the machines were vandalised.

"People were forcefully emptying the machines to take the coins," he explained, adding that the new generation of vending machines would incorporate features designed to reduce the risk of vandalism.

He also assured the public that concerns over condom shortages reported last year had been resolved, noting that the government had procured additional supplies that are now available across the country.

Also addressing the meeting, the World Health Organization Country Office Technical Lead for HIV, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis, Dr Kafui Senya, called for sustained efforts to reduce new HIV infections, eliminate stigma and discrimination, and ensure equitable access to HIV prevention and treatment services.

Programme Manager of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, Dr Emmanuel Akwoulo Agyigewe Teviu, urged stakeholders to strengthen HIV prevention interventions and promote integrated, people-centred healthcare.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the Governing Board of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Kakra Essamuah, reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening Ghana's national response to HIV/AIDS and improving access to prevention and treatment services.