Four decades after recording its first HIV case, Ghana is refocusing its HIV response on eliminating stigma and safeguarding the rights of people living with the virus.
At a human rights training workshop in Tamale, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and partners stressed that while medical progress has transformed HIV into a manageable condition, discrimination remains a major barrier to treatment and prevention.
Director-General of the GAC, Prosper Kharmacelle Akanbong, noted that advances in treatment now allow people living with HIV to lead long, healthy, and productive lives. However, he warned that persistent negative attitudes continue to discourage individuals from testing and seeking care.
“In many communities, people still face rejection and isolation when their status becomes known, which leads to fear and reluctance to access treatment,” he said.
The workshop, organised in collaboration with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), with support from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and the Global Fund, forms part of a nationwide effort to tackle stigma and discrimination linked to both HIV and tuberculosis.
Participants, including legal practitioners, traditional leaders, and civil society actors, discussed the human rights implications of stigma, particularly in workplaces and communities where affected individuals are often denied opportunities or treated unfairly.
Deputy CHRAJ Commissioner Mercy Larbi emphasised that HIV and TB responses must be grounded in human rights protections to be effective. She highlighted the Commission’s reporting system as a key tool for addressing discrimination and ensuring justice for victims.
Adding a personal perspective, Abu Sulemana, who has lived with HIV for nearly 24 years, shared his experience to challenge misconceptions about the disease. He encouraged regular testing and strict adherence to treatment, stressing that an HIV diagnosis is not the end of life.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that the next phase of Ghana’s HIV response must go beyond medical care to include sustained public education, stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, and community acceptance—seen as essential steps toward ending the epidemic.
