New data from the 2023 national and sub-national HIV and AIDS estimates and projections reveal that 17,774 individuals in Ghana contracted HIV last year, comprising 6,457 males and 11,317 females.

This data was disclosed by Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, during a press briefing in Accra.

The newly infected individuals include 4,869 youths aged 15 to 24, 1,698 children under 15, 1,520 adolescents aged 10 to 19, and 16,076 adults over 15. Despite a 14.8 percent reduction in new HIV infections over the past decade, Ghana has fallen short of its annual target of a 17 percent reduction.

Dr. Atuahene highlighted the ambitious goal set for the future: a 41 percent reduction in new HIV infections between 2023 and 2030.

As of 2023, an estimated 334,095 people in Ghana were living with HIV, with females (218,204) outnumbering males (115,891). The affected population includes 17,550 children under 14, 16,381 adolescents aged 10 to 19, 33,245 young adults aged 15 to 24, and 316,545 adults aged 15 and above. The HIV population in Ghana increased by nine percent from 2013 to 2023 and is projected to rise by 6.8 percent by 2030.

The projections also indicate that 12,480 Ghanaians succumbed to AIDS-related illnesses in 2023. Dr. Atuahene emphasized that these deaths were preventable, pointing to the availability of treatments that can halt the disease's progression and prevent fatalities.

Despite these challenges, Ghana remains committed to achieving the global 95-95-95 targets by 2025, which aim to have 95 percent of people living with HIV aware of their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of those on ART achieving viral suppression. In 2023, Ghana achieved 65.3 percent for the first target, 69.4 percent for the second, and 89.0 percent for the third.

Dr. Atuahene underscored the importance of prioritizing the fight against AIDS, particularly since the most affected demographic, those aged 15 to 49, constitutes the economically active population. He called for a collective effort to halt the AIDS epidemic in Ghana, stressing that it should be a national priority.