Ghana recorded 13,951 new HIV infections in 2025, bringing the estimated number of people living with the virus in the country to 337,435, according to the Chief Director at the Office of the President, Dr Alhaji Abubakar Wayo.

The country also recorded 12,051 AIDS-related deaths during the same period, figures Dr Wayo said highlight the need to sustain access to HIV medicines while stepping up efforts to prevent new infections.

He disclosed the figures at the 15th National HIV and AIDS Partnership Forum held in Accra on Thursday.

The forum, which brought together stakeholders in Ghana’s HIV response, was held on the theme, “40 Years of HIV Response in Ghana, Celebrating Partnerships, Transforming Lives, Sustaining the Future”.

Dr Wayo said efforts to address HIV must continue to focus on both treatment and prevention, particularly as Ghana works to reduce new infections.

He called for expanded access to voluntary HIV testing and self-testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis and accurate health information, especially among young people.

He also stressed the need to strengthen efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission, saying pregnant women living with HIV must have timely access to treatment and the necessary support.

Those who test positive, he added, must also be linked quickly to appropriate care and supported to remain on treatment.

Beyond prevention and treatment, Dr Wayo said Ghana was exploring local and regional production of HIV medicines and other essential health commodities to strengthen the country's supply security.

The move is expected to reduce Ghana's dependence on international supply chains and limit the impact of fluctuations in external health financing on the country's HIV response.

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic and growing pressure on global health financing had exposed the risks associated with heavy dependence on international sources for essential health commodities.

The government, he said, would consider evidence-based proposals for domestic and regional production of HIV medicines, diagnostics and other essential products.

“Local production should complement, rather than disrupt, access to quality-assured commodities already available through established procurement arrangements,” Dr Wayo said.

He called on government agencies, research institutions, pharmaceutical manufacturers, regulators and development partners to identify viable opportunities for local manufacturing.

Dr Wayo said Ghana's HIV response over the past four decades had benefited from partnerships involving government institutions, international development partners, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations and communities affected by HIV.

However, he said sustaining the gains made would require stronger domestic financing and greater national capacity to maintain prevention, testing, treatment and care services.

He therefore called for increased budgetary allocations, innovative financing mechanisms and responsible private-sector contributions to support the national HIV response.

Dr Wayo also urged ministries, departments and agencies to consider how their policies, programmes and budgets could contribute to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care.

He further called on metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to incorporate relevant HIV interventions into their development plans and community programmes.

Traditional authorities, religious leaders, educational institutions, employers and civil society organisations, he said, also have a role to play in expanding public education, preventing new infections and improving access to services.

The private sector, he added, should introduce workplace HIV awareness and wellness programmes while adopting policies that protect confidentiality and prevent discrimination.