Health officials in the Ashanti Region have raised concerns over the steady rise in HIV infections, despite ongoing interventions aimed at curbing transmission.
Data from the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) indicate that the region recorded 2,997 new HIV cases in 2024, translating to an average of about nine new infections daily. The Kumasi Metropolitan Area continues to account for a significant share of these cases, prompting calls for stronger prevention and treatment strategies.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health, Dr Fred Adomako Boateng, noted that although HIV testing and treatment coverage had improved, many people living with the virus were still not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
“This gap represents a major public health concern, and closing it requires enhanced testing, increased public awareness, and the widespread availability of prevention services,” he said.
Dr Adomako Boateng explained that efforts were underway to expand HIV testing, treatment, and support services in communities within and around Kumasi. He added that while the number of people on treatment had increased, stigma and discrimination continued to impede progress, especially among men and young people.
“Knowing your HIV status is the most effective first step in protecting yourself and others,” he stressed, encouraging residents to utilise the free testing and counselling services offered at health facilities across the region.
Also commenting on the trend, Madam Olivia Graham, Ashanti Regional Technical Coordinator of the Ghana AIDS Commission, observed that women accounted for a higher proportion of reported cases, partly due to higher testing rates among females compared to males.
She further noted that young people aged 15 to 24 represented a substantial share of new infections and called for targeted interventions to reduce risky behaviours and strengthen HIV prevention education among the youth.
