General News
Ghana Records Drop in HIV Infections and AIDS Deaths as 2025 Estimates Show Progress
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 indicates that new HIV infections reduced from 16,189 cases in 2024 to 13,951 cases in 2025, while AIDS-related deaths also declined from 13,429 to 12,051 during the same period, representing nearly a 14 per cent reduction.
Presenting the estimates in Accra on Monday, July 20, the Director for Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) at the Ghana AIDS Commission, Isaiah Doe Kwao, said the improvement reflects the impact of sustained investments in HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services across the country.
According to him, the figures show that Ghana’s HIV response is achieving meaningful results, although more work remains to be done to meet the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
“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,” Mr Kwao said.
The 2025 estimates revealed that approximately 337,435 people of all ages are currently living with HIV in Ghana.
Out of this figure:
- 315,513 are adults aged 15 years and above
- 21,922 are children below 15 years
The report also showed that 19,528 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 years are living with HIV, while young people aged 15 to 24 years account for 33,317 cases.
Speaking at the launch of the report, the Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmacelle Akanbong, stressed that preventing new HIV infections remains a major priority in Ghana’s fight against the epidemic.
He explained that every new infection increases the number of people who require lifelong treatment and healthcare support.
Dr Akanbong noted that although Ghana has made steady progress, achieving epidemic control will require further reductions in both new infections and AIDS-related deaths.
“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,” he stated.
The GAC Director-General projected that with continued investment in prevention programmes, testing services and treatment coverage, new HIV infections could fall further from 13,951 in 2025 to about 6,430 by 2030.
He also projected that AIDS-related deaths could reduce from 12,051 in 2025 to approximately 4,893 by 2030.
The report further showed that Ghana’s adult HIV prevalence rate among persons aged 15 to 49 years has continued to decline, moving from 1.79 per cent in 2015 to 1.40 per cent in 2025, with projections indicating a further drop to 1.18 per cent by 2030.
Dr Akanbong attributed the decline in HIV prevalence to improved access to antiretroviral medicines, early treatment initiation and better retention of patients receiving HIV care.
However, he warned that challenges remain, especially in identifying people who are unaware of their HIV status, expanding access to testing services and ensuring a consistent supply of essential HIV medicines.
He called for stronger cooperation among government agencies, development partners, healthcare professionals and communities to sustain the progress made and bring Ghana closer to achieving the global target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Sourc:Citinewsroom
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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