New 2024 estimates from the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) reveal that Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern Regions account for the largest populations of people living with HIV, underscoring an urban concentration of the epidemic.
Accra Metro tops the list of new infections, with 451 cases, followed by Kumasi (360), Techiman (264), Kpone-Katamanso (252), and Ga East (206).
According to Issiah Doe Kwao, Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at GAC, risky sexual behaviour—especially among young people—drives these figures. He pointed to low condom use, misinformation about HIV transmission, and unprotected sex as primary factors.
“The urban districts not only house the bulk of Ghana’s population but also see higher levels of transactional sex, youth mobility, and social networks that facilitate transmission,” Mr. Kwao explained. “Targeted interventions in these hotspots are critical.”
In response, GAC plans to broaden access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in high-risk districts. PrEP, an antiviral regimen taken by HIV-negative individuals before potential exposure, has been shown to reduce infection risk by blocking the virus’s life cycle.
“We are scaling up PrEP distribution in Accra, Kumasi, and other urban centres,” Mr. Kwao said. “Alongside condom promotion and risk‑reduction education, this will form the backbone of our intensified prevention strategy.”
Nationally, an estimated 36 percent of districts now exceed Ghana’s adult HIV prevalence rate, highlighting uneven progress in controlling the epidemic. By the end of 2023, 86 percent of people living with HIV knew their status, 77 percent were on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 72 percent had achieved viral suppression.
GAC is also launching youth‑focused campaigns in schools and universities to dispel myths about HIV transmission and promote lubricated condom use—a safer alternative for preventing both pregnancy and infection.
While the North East Region recorded the lowest HIV burden (1,717 cases), urban centres remain the priority for achieving epidemic control. “Combining PrEP, widespread testing, treatment, and education is our path to reducing new infections in these high‑impact areas,” concluded Mr. Kwao.
