More than 23,000 people are estimated to live with HIV in the Western Region of Ghana, with approximately three new infections recorded daily, the latest HIV estimates and projections from the Ghana AIDS Commission have revealed. Newscard
The figures released based on the Commission’s 2025 HIV estimates for 2026, indicate that there is a sustained challenge to end the epidemic while noting the slight dip in new infections in the region.
The data has sparked renewed calls for enhanced prevention, testing and treatment intervention programmes as Ghana remains committed to ending Aids by 2030 as a public health threat.
Speaking to an elated Sekondi-based audience on air during the HIV/AIDS Stakeholders Review Meeting organised at the regional level, Western Regional Technical Coordinator of Ghana AIDS Commission, Antonio Francis said, “The Western Region continues to carry a lot of the burden” in the global fight to end AIDS.
According to him, “the latest estimates by Ghana AIDS Commission have shown and projected that we have currently over 23, 000 people that are living with HIV in the Western Region,” he said.
“Per the 2025 HIV estimates and projections which were done by the Ghana AIDS Commission and the report came out this year, we can say that for the Western Region we have roughly 23, 000 plus people that we estimate are living with the virus in the region,” he revealed.
Meanwhile, Mr Francis admitted that while there has been a slight decline in the number of people newly recorded with HIV, the rate remains very concerning.
He, “However, when it comes to the number of new people getting infected for 2025, the estimates by Ghana AIDS Commission indicate that it was estimated that it is only 992 people who get infected with the virus” in the Western Region of Ghana.
Breaking the new infections down further, Mr Francis stressed that “what this means is that, if you should do a further breakdown, it means that every day we are getting at least three people getting infected in the region”, and added that the numbers highlight the importance of prevention as new HIV infections are a direct marker of the effectiveness of interventions at the local level.
“So, it means we need to reinforce Prevention, Test and Treatment” as the world battles to find cure and preventive solutions to AIDS by 2030”.
Failure to continue to find effective ways of arresting the surge in HIV infections would make it all more difficult for Ghana to achieve the set goal of ending the public health threat by 2030.
While continuing to expand access to treatment for those living with the virus remains critical for quality of life and reducing transmission, sustained focus on new infections are essential.
The figures thus pose as another strong call for increased commitment of stakeholders and relevant bodies to vigorously promote preventive behaviours and encourage HIV testing, among a multiplicity of strategies which offer robust defense against new infections. Editorial Standards
The Ghana AIDS Commission’s figures underscore the critical importance of continuing to expand testing, care and treatment options, while strategically targeting prevention messaging and service delivery to populations and areas where they are most needed to accelerate progress towards ending AIDS.
It is also evident from the statistics that concerted efforts to address stigmatizing attitudes that prevent access to testing and treatment have never been more urgent.
For without timely identification and treatment, the virus continues to spread and individuals living with HIV are denied the life-saving benefits of medication. Editorial Ethics & Independence
This has also reiterates the need for continuous stakeholders’ consultations, such as the HIV/AIDS Stakeholders Review Meeting held in Sekondi, to facilitate collaborative action.
Such meetings enable the relevant parties to assess the existing HIV response, identify gaps, and plan interventions that are tailored to the unique needs of the Western Region.
From the continued progress made by the Commission, HIV education and awareness would continue to play a pivotal role in mitigating the epidemic, with HIV testing serving as a gateway to care and treatment, thus significantly slowing further transmission through the timely treatment of those who test HIV-positive that eventually ensure they have less virus in their systems.
Therefore, the HIV estimates and projections from the Ghana AIDS Commission would continue to provide essential guidance for targeted interventions aimed at turning the tide against the regional epidemic.
The call by Mr Francis underscores that while significant strides have been made, much still needs to be done to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight to end AIDS.
Ultimately, community and public sensitization would continue to be of utmost importance.