Ghana has recorded a significant decline in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, according to the 2025 National HIV Estimates and Projections Report released by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).
The report, launched in Accra on Monday, shows that new HIV infections fell from 16,189 in 2024 to 13,951 in 2025. AIDS-related deaths also declined from 13,429 to 12,051 over the same period, representing a reduction of nearly 14%.
Presenting the findings, the Commission’s Director for Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Isaiah Doe Kwao, attributed the progress to sustained investments in HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services.
“Ghana’s HIV response is making progress, but we still have more work to do to reach epidemic control and ensure that no one is left behind,” he said.
According to the report, an estimated 337,435 people are currently living with HIV in Ghana. Of that figure, 315,513 are adults aged 15 years and above, while 21,922 are children under the age of 15.
The report also estimates that 19,528 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 are living with HIV, while young people aged 15 to 24 account for 33,317 cases nationwide.
Speaking at the launch, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmacelle Akanbong, said preventing new infections remains at the centre of Ghana’s strategy to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat.
He noted that every new HIV infection increases the number of people who require lifelong treatment and support, making prevention a critical component of the national response.
“Epidemic control means new infections and AIDS deaths must continue to come down. There should ideally be no new infections, although that is difficult to achieve. The objective is to reduce them to the lowest possible level,” Dr Akanbong said.
He expressed optimism that Ghana could cut annual new HIV infections from the current 13,951 to approximately 6,430 by 2030 if prevention initiatives, HIV testing services and treatment coverage continue to expand.
The Commission also projects that AIDS-related deaths could decline from 12,051 in 2025 to about 4,893 by 2030.
The report further highlights a steady reduction in adult HIV prevalence among people aged 15 to 49 years, which has fallen from 1.79% in 2015 to 1.40% in 2025. The prevalence rate is expected to decrease further to 1.18% by 2030.
Dr Akanbong attributed the downward trend to improved access to antiretroviral therapy, earlier initiation of treatment after diagnosis and better retention of patients in long-term HIV care.
Despite the progress, he cautioned that significant challenges remain, including identifying individuals who are unaware of their HIV status, expanding access to testing services and ensuring a reliable supply of antiretroviral medicines across the country.
He called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, healthcare professionals and local communities to sustain the gains made in Ghana’s HIV response.
The Ghana AIDS Commission emphasised that continued investment in prevention, testing and treatment programmes will be essential if the country is to achieve the global target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
