The Ghana AIDS Commission has expressed deep concern over a sharp increase in HIV infections among young people, particularly those between the ages of 15 and 24.

Recent data from the Commission indicates a troubling trend: many adolescents and young adults are prioritising the prevention of pregnancy over protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, July 22, the Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Prosper Akanbong, highlighted the rising preference for emergency contraceptives rather than condoms as a key driver of new infections.

“We are witnessing alarmingly high infection rates among the 15 to 24 age group. This progressive rise in HIV cases is very disturbing,” Dr. Akanbong stated.

He explained that many young people perceive pregnancy as a more immediate concern than contracting HIV, leading to a significant increase in the use of emergency contraceptive pills, while condom usage—which offers protection against both pregnancy and STIs—remains low.

“There’s a shift in priorities among young people. The fear of getting pregnant outweighs the fear of contracting infections, and that’s dangerous. Condom use is declining even as emergency contraceptives become more popular,” he lamented.

Dr. Akanbong called for urgent and intensified public education efforts to promote safe sex practices and dispel widespread misconceptions about HIV and reproductive health.

Vice Chair of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Dr. Sebastian Sandaare, has assured nurses and midwives that the government will improve their conditions of service as the economy stabilizes.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on Sunday, June 22, 2025, Dr. Sandaare expressed confidence that President Mahama’s administration would provide additional incentives once the economy improves.

He acknowledged the vital role healthcare workers play, stating that the government is not ignoring their demands.

“Government is not saying that it is wrong to give them uniforms. Government is only saying that give us some time because their issues were not captured in the 2025 budget,” Dr. Sandaare explained. “But we know what motivated nurses and midwives can do in terms of delivering quality healthcare.”

He assured them that President John Dramani Mahama would go beyond supplying uniforms and offer more incentives if the economy picks up.

“That is why I believe that under his leadership, nurses and midwives will not leave this country. They will be excited and work in an enabling environment,” Sandaare added.

Nurses and midwives recently resumed work after going on strike to demand the implementation of their conditions of service agreed upon in May 2024. The strike, which began on June 2, 2025, led to the withdrawal of emergency services, significantly impacting healthcare delivery.

Following the intervention of the Parliamentary Health Committee, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) suspended the strike on June 13, 2025.

A final meeting between nurses, midwives, and the government is scheduled for June 26, 2025, to resolve the matter.

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has called off its nationwide strike following what it described as “very fruitful” discussions with Parliament’s Select Committee on Health.

The industrial action, which commenced on June 2, 2025, stemmed from delays in the implementation of a Collective Agreement signed in May 2024. What began as a symbolic protest with nurses wearing red armbands escalated into a full-blown withdrawal of outpatient and emergency services by June 9, significantly disrupting healthcare delivery nationwide.

In a press statement released on Friday, June 13, GRNMA announced the suspension of the strike, citing strong public appeals and the timely intervention of Parliament’s Health Committee.

“The engagement held with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and other stakeholders on Thursday, June 12, 2025, was very productive and laid the groundwork for a peaceful resolution of the dispute,” the statement noted.

The association has directed all nurses and midwives to return to duty beginning Saturday, June 14. A follow-up meeting with Parliament has been scheduled for June 26 to finalize the path forward on implementing the agreement.

GRNMA also took the opportunity to address circulating misinformation, stressing that the strike was neither politically driven nor intended to harm patients.

“We do not find satisfaction in seeing our patients suffer. But we cannot provide quality care when the system fails to support us,” the association stated.

Reaffirming its neutrality, GRNMA underscored its role as a non-partisan professional body that has consistently engaged all governments over its 65-year history to advocate for improved conditions for nurses and midwives.

“In our 65 years of existence, GRNMA has never been affiliated with any political party. We have worked with every government since 1960 to build a stronger, more resilient healthcare system,” the statement emphasized.

The association expressed appreciation to the Chairman, Ranking Member, and members of the Health Committee for their structured and decisive intervention. It also extended gratitude to its members for their unity and professionalism during the strike, and acknowledged the media for highlighting their concerns.

“We thank the media sincerely for amplifying our voices across Ghana and beyond. We urge continued professionalism to guard against misinformation,” the statement concluded.

GRNMA assured the public that it remains committed to seeing the full implementation of the Collective Agreement.