Ghana Faces Critical HIV Treatment Gap, Threatening Epidemic Control
New data from the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) shows a troubling gap in HIV treatment, with over half of those diagnosed not receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART). According to the commission’s 2024 national HIV estimates, only 47% (334,721 people) of the infected population are currently on treatment, leaving 52.6% without access—a situation officials call “alarming” for the nation’s epidemic response.
At a recent press briefing in Accra, health experts, government representatives, and development partners gathered to review Ghana’s progress toward global HIV targets. Isaiah Doe Kwao, the GAC’s Director of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation, highlighted that the country is falling short of the UNAIDS “95-95-95” goals, which aim for 95% of people with HIV to know their status, 95% of diagnosed individuals to receive treatment, and 95% on treatment to achieve viral suppression.
Key Findings from the Report:
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15,290 new HIV infections were recorded in 2024, alongside 12,614 AIDS-related deaths—though 12,358 deaths were prevented due to treatment access.
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Women and children remain disproportionately affected, accounting for 68.5% (10,303) of new infections and 5.4% (1,243) in children under 15.
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While 99.3% of HIV-positive mothers receive prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services, gaps persist in follow-up care.
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Adult males represented 4,987 new cases, while those aged 15+ made up 11,289 of the total infections.
Kwao stressed the urgent need to scale up ART access, warning that untreated cases endanger both HIV-positive individuals and the broader population. Despite progress in PMTCT, he emphasized that stronger treatment adherence and outreach are critical to curbing new infections and meeting global targets.
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