General News
Ghana Records 337,435 People Living with HIV in 2025, New Report Shows
Ghana continues to make progress in the fight against HIV, but the country still faces significant challenges, according to the 2025 National HIV Estimates Fact Sheet. The latest figures show that an estimated 337,435 people are currently living with HIV, while 13,951 new infections and 12,051 AIDS-related deaths were recorded nationwide.
The report indicates that adults aged 15 years and above account for 315,513 people living with HIV, representing the largest share of the epidemic. Children aged 0–14 years account for 21,922 cases, highlighting the continued need to strengthen paediatric HIV prevention and treatment programmes. Young people remain particularly vulnerable, with 33,317 people aged 15–24 years living with HIV.
Although Ghana has made notable strides in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, the report reveals that new infections remain a public health concern. Of the 13,951 new infections, adults aged 15 years and above accounted for 12,724 cases, while 1,227 infections occurred among children under 15 years. Young people aged 15–24 years accounted for 3,835 new infections, demonstrating that adolescents and young adults continue to face a high risk of infection.
The country also recorded 12,051 AIDS-related deaths during the reporting period. Adults accounted for 10,533 deaths, while 1,518 children under 15 years lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses. The figures suggest that despite improvements in treatment services, many people are still being diagnosed late or are unable to access sustained HIV care.
National HIV prevalence among adults aged 15–49 years stands at 1.4 percent, reflecting a relatively stable epidemic but one that continues to affect thousands of Ghanaians each year. Treatment coverage, however, remains below global targets. The report shows that only 57.6 percent of adults living with HIV are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), while 39.6 percent of children are on life-saving treatment.
One of Ghana’s strongest achievements remains the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The country has attained 98.9 percent PMTCT coverage, indicating that nearly all pregnant women living with HIV are receiving interventions to prevent transmission to their babies.
The report also measures Ghana’s progress toward the global 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95 percent of people living with HIV to know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed to receive treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression. Ghana has currently achieved 70 percent for HIV status awareness, 81 percent treatment coverage among those diagnosed, and 92 percent viral suppression among those on treatment. While viral suppression rates are encouraging, the data indicate that more work is needed to improve HIV testing and expand treatment access.
The fact sheet also highlights significant variations in HIV prevalence across districts. Some of the highest prevalence rates were recorded in Lower Manya Krobo (5.08%), Korle-Klottey (4.54%), Upper Manya Krobo (3.71%), Accra Metropolitan (3.67%), Tema (3.38%), Berekum (3.35%), Dormaa East (3.27%), and Asokwa (3.25%). These findings underscore the need for targeted prevention and treatment interventions in communities with the highest HIV burden.
Health experts say the new estimates provide critical data for policymakers and health partners to strengthen HIV prevention programmes, increase access to testing and treatment services, and ensure that vulnerable populations—including children, adolescents, and young people—receive the care and support they need. Sustained investment in public education, early diagnosis, and universal access to treatment will be essential if Ghana is to achieve the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
General News
“I Stood by You in 2013, I’ll Stand by You Again” – Joseph Osei-Owusu Brenya Backs Chairman Wontumi
The National Communications Director of the Hopeful New Patriotic Party (NPP), Joseph Osei-Oppong Brenya, has reaffirmed his support for Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, amid the latter’s ongoing legal challenges.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, Brenya reflected on his long-standing relationship with Chairman Wontumi, recalling that he publicly defended him in 2013 when, according to him, doing so was unpopular.
“In 2013, I stood by you when it was not fashionable to do so. I exposed the then John Dramani Mahama’s evil plans against you and your businesses. Here they are again but they will fail this one too,” he wrote.
Brenya asserted that despite occasional disagreements with Wontumi over internal NPP politics, his loyalty to the Ashanti Regional Chairman remains unwavering.
“We may differ a bit in NPP politics but loyalty goes beyond these. This is not the time to leave you behind. I am with you and we will not allow evil to triumph.”
He ended his message with a statement that has since attracted attention on social media.
“May God forgive them, because we won’t.”
The Facebook post comes amid ongoing public and political discussions surrounding Chairman Wontumi’s legal battle, with several NPP figures rallying behind the Ashanti Regional Chairman and criticizing what they describe as political persecution.
General News
Minority Accuses Government of Selective Justice in Akonta Case, Demands Equal Treatment Under the Law
The Parliamentary Minority Caucus has accused the government of practicing selective justice following the High Court’s judgment in the case of The Republic v. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Limited.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei argued that state institutions appear to act more swiftly and aggressively when members of the political opposition are involved.
“The Minority Caucus has taken note of the judgment delivered by the High Court in the case of The Republic v. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Limited,” she stated.
According to Hon. Appiagyei, the matter extends beyond the prosecution of one individual and raises broader concerns about the fairness of Ghana’s justice system. She stressed that democracy can only thrive when citizens, particularly those on the losing side of political contests, have confidence that the law is applied consistently and impartially.
She maintained that if the government is genuinely committed to ending selective justice, it must demonstrate the same determination in prosecuting members of its own political ranks.
“When the law is applied only when convenient, then no citizen’s rights are secure, regardless of political affiliation. Public confidence in institutions that should outlive any administration is weakened,” she said.
The Minority also issued four key demands in response to the court’s ruling:
- Attorney-General: Publish the government’s enforcement record on illegal mining cases involving individuals across the political divide to prove that the law is being enforced without bias.
- Court of Appeal: Carefully examine issues raised in the case, including the alleged denial of legal counsel, the refusal to make a constitutional referral, and matters relating to bail, with what the Minority described as “equal and unflinching scrutiny.”
- Judiciary: Clarify and reaffirm the legal threshold for constitutional referrals, taking into account the Supreme Court’s decision in the Zenator case.
- The Ghanaian Public: Demand the same standards of justice that, according to the Minority, cleared Tsatsu Tsikata’s name in 2006 be applied consistently in current cases.
Hon. Appiagyei concluded by emphasizing that justice must not only be carried out but must also be visibly fair and applied equally to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
General News
Mahama hosts AU extraordinary summit on universal health coverage and ending AIDS
President John Dramani Mahama is hosting the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Accra from July 21 to 22, 2026, aimed at advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthening Africa’s response to major public health challenges.
The summit, themed “Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa,” will bring together African Heads of State and Government, ministers responsible for health, finance and foreign affairs, officials of the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, civil society organisations, youth representatives and private sector stakeholders.
According to the Presidency, the two-day meeting will focus on strengthening Africa’s health systems and accelerating the continent’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
The summit opens on July 21 with a Member State Experts Meeting, where senior officials from the Ministries of Health, Finance and Economic Planning will develop technical recommendations for consideration by ministers and Heads of State.
On July 22, the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government will deliberate on and adopt key decisions, including a declaration aimed at accelerating the implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030.
The Presidency said Ghana’s hosting of the summit reflects President Mahama’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery and his administration’s efforts to expand access to quality health services.
Key initiatives highlighted include the rollout of the Free Primary Health Care Programme, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to improve access to essential healthcare, and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares, to support Universal Health Coverage.
The government also pointed to ongoing investments in health infrastructure, workforce development, emergency preparedness and local pharmaceutical manufacturing as measures that align with the objectives of the summit.
A major side event will feature a Call to Action on Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Survival, led by the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, in partnership with the Accra Reset initiative.
The Government of Ghana has welcomed all participating Heads of State, delegates and stakeholders, reaffirming its commitment to working with the African Union and member states to advance health equity and Universal Health Coverage across Africa.
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