New data from the Ghana AIDS Commission reveals that 17,774 individuals in Ghana contracted HIV in 2023, with females accounting for a significant majority of new infections.
During a press briefing in Accra, Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, disclosed that 11,317 females and 6,457 males were newly infected with HIV last year.
This data includes 4,869 youths aged 15 to 24, 1,698 children under 15, 1,520 adolescents aged 10 to 19, and 16,076 adults over 15.
Despite a 14.8 percent reduction in new HIV infections over the past decade, Ghana has not met its annual target of a 17 percent reduction. Dr. Atuahene emphasized the need for more ambitious goals, setting a target of a 41 percent reduction in new HIV infections between 2023 and 2030.
As of 2023, an estimated 334,095 people in Ghana were living with HIV, with females outnumbering males. The affected population includes 17,550 children under 14, 16,381 adolescents aged 10 to 19, 33,245 young adults aged 15 to 24, and 316,545 adults aged 15 and above.
Despite progress in HIV treatment availability, 12,480 Ghanaians died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2023. Dr. Atuahene emphasized that these deaths were preventable with access to appropriate treatments.
Ghana remains committed to achieving the global 95-95-95 targets by 2025, aiming to have 95 percent of people living with HIV aware of their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of those on ART achieving viral suppression. In 2023, Ghana achieved 65.3 percent, 69.4 percent, and 89.0 percent for the respective targets.
Dr. Atuahene called for increased efforts to combat AIDS, particularly among the economically active population aged 15 to 49. He emphasized that addressing the AIDS epidemic should be a national priority in Ghana.