The Ghana AIDS Commission has warned that poor condom use, especially among adolescent girls and young women, is driving new HIV infections in the Volta Region. The area currently has 19,078 people living with HIV, representing 5.7% of the national total, including 4,999 adult males, 12,881 adult females, and 1,198 children.
Mary Naa Asheley Anyomi, Volta Regional Technical Coordinator, reported that HIV prevalence is 2.1% in the general population but higher among key groups—4.3% for female sex workers and 28.1% for men who have sex with men. The region recorded 809 new infections recently, including 69 children.
She noted uneven antiretroviral therapy coverage (38–61.5%) and reliance on donor funding, while stigma and discrimination limit testing, treatment, and disclosure. Anyomi called for expanded HIV testing, community-based approaches, and greater access to condoms.
The newly formed nine-member Regional Committee, chaired by Volta Regional Minister James Gunu, includes representatives from health services, civil society, education, and traditional authorities. Gunu pledged stronger collaboration and urged members to work diligently toward ending AIDS in the region by 2030.
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