Ghana has experienced a notable decrease in new HIV infections and AIDS-related fatalities, as reported in the 2025 National HIV Estimates and Projections published by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).
The findings indicate that new HIV infections fell from 16,189 in 2024 to 13,951 in 2025, while AIDS-related deaths also decreased from 13,429 to 12,051 during the same timeframe, reflecting an approximate 14% reduction.
During the presentation of these estimates in Accra on Monday, July 20, Isaiah Doe Kwao, the Director for Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) at the GAC, credited this advancement to ongoing investments in HIV testing, treatment, and care services nationwide.
He remarked that these statistics illustrate the effectiveness of Ghana’s HIV response, although additional efforts are necessary to meet the goal of eradicating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
“Ghana’s HIV response is progressing, but we still have more work to do to achieve epidemic control and ensure that no one is left behind,” stated Mr. Kwao.
The 2025 estimates reveal that approximately 337,435 individuals of all ages are currently living with HIV in Ghana. Among this population, 315,513 are adults aged 15 years and older, while 21,922 are children under 15 years.
The report also highlighted that 19,528 adolescents aged 10 to 19 are living with HIV, with young individuals aged 15 to 24 years representing 33,317 cases.
At the launch, Dr. Kharmacelle Akanbong, the Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, emphasized that preventing new HIV infections is a vital aspect of Ghana’s strategy, noting that each new infection increases the number of individuals requiring lifelong treatment and care.
He acknowledged that while the nation has made consistent progress, achieving epidemic control will necessitate further reductions in new infections and AIDS-related deaths.
“Epidemic control signifies that new infections and AIDS-related deaths must continue to decline. Ideally, there should be no new infections, although achieving this is challenging.
Dr. Akanbong forecasted that new HIV infections could decrease from 13,951 in 2025 to around 6,430 by 2030, while AIDS-related fatalities might drop from 12,051 to approximately 4,893 during the same timeframe, contingent upon the continued enhancement of prevention programs, testing services, and treatment coverage.
He further noted that Ghana’s adult HIV prevalence among individuals aged 15 to 49 years has consistently declined, decreasing from 1.79% in 2015 to 1.40% in 2025, with an anticipated further reduction to 1.18% by 2030.
Dr. Akanbong attributed the decline in prevalence primarily to improved access to antiretroviral medications, the early initiation of treatment, and better patient retention in HIV care.
Nevertheless, he warned that challenges persist, especially in identifying individuals who are unaware of their HIV status, expanding testing services, and ensuring a reliable supply of life-saving medications.
He urged enhanced collaboration among government agencies, development partners, healthcare professionals, and communities to maintain the progress achieved in the battle against HIV and to move closer to the global objective of eradicating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
