'Young women between 15 and 24 are most affected by HIV' – Counsellor Lutterodt

Ghanaian relationship counsellor George Lutterodt has expressed concern over the rising number of young women reportedly testing positive for HIV in Ghana, particularly among those in senior high schools and universities.

According to him, females between the ages of 15 and 24 account for the highest number of reported HIV cases in the country, a trend he believes requires urgent national attention through renewed sex education and awareness campaigns.

Speaking in an interview with Nana Romeo on Okay FM on July 23, 2026, Counselor Lutterodt mentioned that the situation has become worrying.

Lutterodt added that he partly blames himself for no longer actively championing HIV/AIDS education as he once did.

"As I'm speaking now, women are leading with HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The age bracket is what is pissing me off the most. I'm angry at myself, and I should be blamed. I don't want to blame the National AIDS Commission because they were working on donor funds,” he said.

He continued, “It got to a time when I went to them for sponsorship to organise World AIDS Day activities; there was no money. The churches too no longer gave me the chance, so I stopped.”

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Lutterodt claimed that many young women complete junior high school and enter senior high school already living with HIV, while some university students also graduate and proceed to national service after contracting the virus.

"From ages 15 to 24, women are leading. The period when children finish JHS and enter SHS, some are already living with HIV. By age 24, following Ghana's educational calendar, you're looking at a Level 400 university student. Our Level 400 students who are coming out to do national service are coming out with HIV," he stated.

He further noted that the figures released by the Ghana AIDS Commission represent only reported cases, warning that many infected individuals may still be unaware of their status because they have never undergone voluntary counselling and testing.

"The number the Ghana AIDS Commission has given us is reported cases. Some people have never decided to do voluntary counselling and testing, but they are there," he shared.

Lutterodt also lamented what he described as the decline in comprehensive sex education, arguing that the reluctance to openly discuss HIV/AIDS is worsening the situation.

"Now we don't do sex education anymore. One of the things we don't want to talk about is HIV/AIDS. The mode of spread is very simple. The children who are 15 and have it were not born with HIV or infected through a cut at a salon,” he said.

He added, “If we follow the pattern by which they got it, it points to unprotected sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse among young people is not the issue; what is dangerous is when they engage in it without protection.”

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