The Ghana AIDS Commission disclosed that its 2025 HIV projected figures released this year show that about 23,000 people are currently living with HIV in the Western Region.
According to the Ghana AIDS Commission, an estimated three new infections are recorded every day in the Western Region.
Antonio Francis, the Western Regional Technical Coordinator of the Ghana AIDS Commission, however, revealed that there has been a slight decline in the rate of new infections.
He stressed that failure to reduce new HIV infections through a combination of effective treatment and multiple prevention measures could undermine Ghana’s goal of ending AIDS by 2030.
Speaking to Channel One TV in Sekondi during an HIV/AIDS Stakeholders Review Meeting, Antonio Francis stated, “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.
“If you look at the rate of new infections, it has reduced slightly from somewhere around 992 persons newly infected with HIV.
“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.”
In other news, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has announced that Ghana will begin deploying condom vending machines across the country by the last quarter of 2026 in efforts to boost HIV prevention.
According to the AIDS Commission, the machines are expected to be installed at lorry stations, mosques, stadia and shopping malls, to enable people to obtain condoms privately.
The AIDS Commission also revealed plans to extend the initiative to public institutions like washrooms in ministries, departments, agencies and financial institutions.
Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, revealed that machines would be designed differently depending on the characteristics of the communities.
Speaking at the dissemination meeting in Accra on the 2026 HIV Estimates and Projections, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong stated, “The machines will not all be the same. Depending on the peculiar characteristics of a local population, the machine deployed could be electronically operated or manually administered”.
He further recounted that Ghana had previously introduced condom vending machines that dispensed packs of three condoms for 50 pesewas, but the programme collapsed after many of the machines were vandalised.
“People were forcefully emptying the machines to take the coins,” he said.
Also, the Ghana AIDS Commission have revealed that about 337,435 Ghanaian people of all ages are currently living with HIV in Ghana, with 13,951 new infections recorded in 2025.
Out of the 337,435 Ghanaians living with HIV, 315,513 are adults aged 15 years and above, while 21,922 are children below 15 years.
Also, 19,528 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 are living with HIV, with young people aged 15 to 24 years accounting for 33,317 cases.
However, the Ghana AIDS Commission revealed that Ghana recorded a decline in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, with the latest national estimates.
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) disclosed that the 2025 National HIV Estimates and Projections report indicates that new HIV infections reduced from 16,189 in 2024 to 13,951 in 2025.
They further detailed that AIDS-related deaths also declined from 13,429 to 12,051 within the same period, representing nearly a 14% reduction.
@ghnow_ Adu Boahene spotted at the Accra High Court earlier today #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Former Ghanaian boxer Ayitey Powers has apologised to NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah following his arrest over alleged threats, pleading for his forgiveness. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
