The Ghana AIDS Commission has revealed that more than 15,290 people were newly infected with HIV between January and December last year, marking a worrying rise in infections, particularly among young people.
Director of Technical Services at the Commission, Dr. Fred Nana Poku, said young people aged 15 to 24 accounted for about 4,700 of the new cases, representing 31% of all recorded infections.
According to him, this marks a sharp increase compared to previous years. He noted that historically, the youth contributed between 25% and 28% of new HIV infections, but the latest figures show a significant jump, making young people the fastest-growing group in the country’s infection statistics.
Dr. Poku described the trend as alarming and urged young people to prioritise protection and responsible sexual behaviour. He emphasised that reversing the rise in infections will require intensified education, testing and preventive efforts across communities.
Providing regional insights, he indicated that the Greater Accra Region continues to record the highest number of HIV cases, while the northern parts of the country registered the lowest.
The Ghana AIDS Commission is calling for renewed national attention and stronger advocacy to curb the growing spread of HIV, especially among young people.
