Akandoh: Over 160,000 untreated HIV cases threaten Ghana’s 2030 AIDS target

The Ministry of Health has raised the alarm over Ghana’s low HIV/AIDS treatment coverage, warning that the persistent treatment gap threatens the country’s efforts to control the epidemic.

Presenting Ghana’s 2024 National HIV Estimates at the 23rd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2025), Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh revealed that the country recorded 15,290 new infections and over 12,000 AIDS-related deaths last year. Of the 334,721 people living with HIV, more than 18,000 are children under 15.

Despite this burden, only 47.5% of adults and 35.8% of children living with HIV are currently on treatment, the Minister said, describing the shortfall as the single biggest barrier to achieving epidemic control.

Highlighting the broader implications, Mintah Akandoh emphasised the urgent need to address inequalities that hinder access to treatment. Key populations, including female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people, still face significant obstacles due to stigma and discrimination within the health system.

The Minister also drew attention to the vulnerability of young people, noting that adolescents and youth aged 10 to 24 account for nearly one-third of all new infections. Adolescent girls and young women remain disproportionately affected due to persistent gender inequalities, a trend he described as deeply troubling and a major driver of the treatment gap.

Despite some progress — including a 90% treatment success rate among those currently enrolled in care and a 99.3% prevention-of-mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) rate — more than 160,000 diagnosed individuals remain untreated. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh warned that this poses a significant challenge to achieving Ghana’s 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat.

“Our 2024 national estimates reveal both impressive progress and serious challenges,” he said. “Ghana has approximately 334,721 people living with HIV, including over 18,000 children under 15. Adult prevalence stands at 1.49%, with 15,290 new infections and 12,614 AIDS-related deaths recorded last year. Encouragingly, those on treatment have reached 90%, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission stands at 99.3%.”