Youth in Ghana are increasingly vulnerable to HIV infection due to a complex interplay of social, behavioral, and systemic challenges. These include widespread issues such as drug abuse, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, early and forced marriages, and limited access to accurate and comprehensive information on HIV and reproductive health services. These overlapping challenges not only place young people at greater risk of infection but also limit their ability to protect themselves and make informed decisions regarding their health and wellbeing.
Recognizing the urgent need for a more coordinated and holistic response, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) initiated a series of collaborative discussions aimed at identifying sustainable and impactful interventions. These discussions led to the development of a set of strategic actions and activities specifically tailored to address the unique vulnerabilities faced by Ghanaian youth. The proposed interventions are designed to be long-term, ensuring their relevance and effectiveness well into the future.
This partnership between GAC and UNFPA seeks to harness the strengths of both organizations to maximize the impact of resources and programs. By creating synergies in advocacy, policy development, and program implementation, the collaboration aims to enhance the overall response to HIV and related youth issues. The interventions are closely aligned with the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (NSP) 2021–2025, which outlines Ghana’s national vision to significantly reduce new HIV infections and ultimately end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
Furthermore, Ghana is an active member of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition (GPC), a global platform that works to reinforce political commitment and leadership around HIV prevention. The GPC supports the implementation of the 2021 UN Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, which sets ambitious targets, including a reduction in new HIV infections by more than 80% by the year 2025, compared to 2010 levels. As part of its mandate, the GPC also focuses on enhancing HIV prevention across five key pillars, which include the promotion of combination prevention, strengthening of HIV services, and addressing structural barriers.
According to the 2023 National HIV Estimates and Projections, an estimated 33,242 young people aged 15–24 in Ghana are currently living with HIV. Alarmingly, 4,867 of these were newly infected in 2023 alone, accounting for 27% of all new HIV infections in the country. This statistic underscores the urgent need for targeted prevention efforts among the youth population. The high infection rates can be attributed to a range of factors, including biological susceptibility, risky sexual behaviors, socio-economic hardships, and challenges within the healthcare system such as stigma, inadequate youth-friendly services, and limited outreach.