Bono Region Records Nearly 20,000 HIV Cases, Says GAC

The Bono Region has reported 19,979 residents living with HIV and AIDS, according to Ahmed Ibrahim Bambila, the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regional Technical Coordinator of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).

He revealed that the region also recorded 875 new HIV infections, describing the numbers as “alarming” and calling for stronger, collaborative efforts to address the root causes and prevent further spread.

Mr. Bambila made these remarks during the inauguration of the Bono Regional Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission (RECCOM) in Sunyani on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

The newly inaugurated nine-member committee, chaired by Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa, is tasked with guiding and coordinating HIV-related activities in the region to reduce new infections and improve care.

Mr. Bambila highlighted several persistent drivers of HIV transmission, including low condom use, multiple sexual partners, stigma and discrimination, inadequate sexual health education, migration, transactional sex, and limited access to HIV services.

Data from the 2024 Regional HIV Estimates show that HIV prevalence in the Bono Region is 2.22 percent among individuals aged 15 to 49—above the national average.

He called on community leaders, health institutions, civil society organizations, and traditional authorities to intensify education and advocacy to combat stigma, encourage safer sexual behaviors, and improve access to testing and treatment.