Bono Has Ghana’s Highest HIV Prevalence, Greater Accra Leads New Infections

By: Maud Agyapongmaa Boakye

Date: 22nd July 2026

4 days ago

Ghana’s Bono Region has recorded the country’s highest HIV prevalence, while the Greater Accra Region had the largest number of new infections, according to the latest estimates from the Ghana AIDS Commission.

National HIV prevalence stood at 1.4%, with an estimated 337,435 people living with HIV, the commission said. Ghana recorded 13,951 new infections, including 1,227 among children, and 12,051 AIDS-related deaths in 2025.

Children aged 0 to 14 accounted for 21,922 of those living with HIV and 1,518 of the deaths, while adults aged 15 and above accounted for 315,513 infections and 10,533 deaths.

The North East Region recorded the lowest HIV prevalence at 0.7%, underscoring disparities in the spread of the epidemic across the country.

Ghana’s progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets stood at 70% for people living with HIV who know their status, 81% for those diagnosed and 92% for those who have achieved viral suppression.

Isaiah Doe Kwao, Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ghana AIDS Commission, said the estimates would help identify emerging trends and gaps and guide evidence-based decisions at national and regional levels.

GAC Director-General Dr Kharmacelle Akanbong said Ghana had made progress in HIV prevention, testing, treatment and viral suppression, but the uneven impact of the epidemic across regions, districts and age groups required greater efforts to close disparities in access to healthcare.

The World Health Organization’s Technical Lead for HIV, TB and Hepatitis in Ghana, Dr Kafui Senya, said global progress had been significant, with new HIV infections down about 40% and AIDS-related deaths down roughly 58% from 2010 levels.

But the epidemic was not over, he said, noting that about 1.3 million new HIV infections and 630,000 AIDS-related deaths were recorded globally in 2024.

Dr Emmanuel A.A. Teviu, Programme Manager of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, called for renewed efforts to meet the 95-95-95 targets and ensure people living with HIV have access to quality and equitable healthcare.

Kakra Essamuah, Chairman of the Ghana AIDS Commission’s Governing Board, said the government remained committed to strengthening domestic leadership and integrating HIV priorities into broader health and development programmes.