The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has raised concerns about the significant number of Ghanaians living with HIV who are unaware of their status. According to the Commission, 35% of HIV-positive individuals have not tested to know their status, while 55% of these cases are not enrolled in life-saving antiretroviral treatment.

These revelations were made during the National Durbar Celebration for World AIDS Day, held on December 2, under the theme, “Ending AIDS Together, Stepping Up Efforts.”

Speaking at the event, Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director-General of the GAC, acknowledged the strides made in combating the epidemic but highlighted the challenges that remain.

“Despite the progress we have made, the epidemic continues to show a very low rate of decline. It is estimated that 35% of Ghanaians living with HIV have not tested and don’t know their HIV status. While 55% of them are not on antiretroviral medicines,” Dr. Atuahene noted.

He emphasized that adherence to antiretroviral treatment is critical to meeting the Commission’s treatment targets and ultimately ending the epidemic.

Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, Ghana’s Minister for Health, also spoke at the event, urging intensified efforts toward prevention to achieve complete eradication of the disease.

“As much as possible, we must invest our energies into prevention so that with time, elimination would be the standard. This is how we can join the ranks of first-world countries in the fight against AIDS,” Dr. Okoe Boye said.

The event underscored the importance of increased testing, treatment enrollment, and preventive measures in Ghana’s fight against HIV/AIDS. Stakeholders were called upon to step up efforts to address the gaps in care and work toward the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.