In 2023, Ghana recorded a significant number of new HIV infections, totaling 17,774 cases. The data, derived from national and sub-national HIV and AIDS estimates and projections, revealed that 6,457 males and 11,317 females were newly infected. This figure included 4,869 youth aged 15 to 24, 1,698 children under 15, 1,520 adolescents between 10 and 19, and 16,076 adults over 15.
Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, presented these statistics in Accra on Wednesday. He noted that while the data shows a 14.8 percent decrease in new infections over the past decade, Ghana has not met its annual goal of a 17 percent reduction. Looking ahead, the country aims for a 41 percent reduction in new HIV infections by 2030.
In 2023, 334,095 Ghanaians were living with HIV, including 115,891 males and 218,204 females. This group comprised 17,550 children under 14, 16,381 adolescents between 10 and 19, 33,245 young adults between 15 and 24, and 316,545 adults aged 15 and above. The overall HIV-positive population increased by nine percent from 2013 to 2023 and is projected to rise by another 6.8 percent by 2030.
The year 2023 also saw 12,480 AIDS-related deaths in Ghana. Dr. Atuahene highlighted that despite the availability of treatments to prevent disease progression and reduce mortality, AIDS-related deaths persist. He emphasized Ghana's commitment to the global 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95 percent of people living with HIV to know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed to receive antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of those on ART to achieve viral suppression by 2025.
In 2023, Ghana reached 65.3 percent for the first 95 target, 69.4 percent for the second, and 89.0 percent for the third. Notably, most individuals living with HIV in Ghana are between the ages of 15 and 49, representing the country's economically active population. Dr. Atuahene stressed that halting the AIDS epidemic in Ghana should be a top priority for everyone.
With these figures and goals in mind, it is clear that continued efforts are essential to combat HIV/AIDS in Ghana and achieve significant reductions in new infections and AIDS-related deaths.