The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), led by its new Acting Director-General, Dr. Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, has called for intensified prevention efforts and renewed stakeholder commitment in the national fight against HIV/AIDS.
This call came during a stakeholder engagement meeting held with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Volta Region, aimed at enhancing coordination, advocacy, and sustainability in Ghana’s HIV response.
The meeting, which took place in Ho on Wednesday April 16, sought to deepen collaboration between the Commission and regional stakeholders, improve technical support, and promote high-level advocacy around resource mobilization, especially for the HIV and AIDS Fund.
Addressing participants, Dr. Akanbong expressed concern over the reduction in preventive messaging, which he described as a critical gap in the current response.
“The preventive messages are missing. We’re not coming forward enough with strong prevention campaigns. We need to intensify efforts across all media platforms—radio, TV, online—to make sure the message reaches every corner,” he said.
Dr. Akanbong emphasised that prevention, linkage to care, and patient retention must be the top priorities.
Many people, he noted, get tested and are confirmed positive but are not linked to treatment. Even those who start treatment often drop off due to stigma, lack of support, and poor follow-up.
“We must reduce the stigma associated with HIV. If people are afraid to be seen going for treatment, they’ll stop. We need policies, especially in the workplace, that support those living with HIV and encourage them to stay on treatment,” he added.
Dr. Akanbong reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the UNAIDS 95-95-95 target by 2025—which aims for, 95 per cent of all people living with HIV to know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed to receive sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 per cent of those on ART to achieve viral suppression.

“In 2023, Ghana achieved 69-86-90, and although 2024 is showing some improvements, we’re seeing worrying new infections among young people, especially in mining areas and among drug users,” he noted.
He urged CSOs to scale up advocacy and reach youth populations with targeted prevention messages.
During the interactive session, CSOs from across the region shared concerns, including: Shortages of HIV commodities such as test kits and condoms, Lack of funding for media outreach and public education, Policy gaps around testing minors aged 13 and above.
Many CSOs emphasised that these limitations hinder their ability to deliver effective HIV education and outreach services, particularly in rural and high-risk communities.
Responding to the concerns, Dr. Fred Nana Poku, Director of Technical Services at the Ghana AIDS Commission, acknowledged the supply challenges and revealed that plans were underway to produce HIV commodities locally.
“Yes, we’ve faced challenges with consistent supply. But as a Commission under the Office of the President, we are now exploring how to locally manufacture essential commodities—test kits, condoms, and ARVs,” he said.
Dr. Poku explained that the Commission is conducting feasibility studies to assess the viability of the local production plan.
They are in talks with local pharmaceutical companies and are receiving technical support from German partners to ensure quality production standards.
“This initiative was started some years ago but stalled. We are reviving it with the goal of building a self-reliant HIV response system,” he added.
The Ghana AIDS Commission stressed the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration, calling on media, local government, traditional leaders, and health workers to work together to break the stigma, spread preventive messages, and support people living with HIV.
The Commission also reiterated its commitment to regional engagements as a tool to strengthen local-level coordination and ensure that the national HIV response is truly inclusive and community-driven.