With new data indicating a rise in HIV prevalence, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has inaugurated a nine-member committee to lead the fight against the epidemic.
The Minister expressed grave concern over 1,120 new infections recorded in 2024, a rate of three daily cases that has held steady for years.
The urgency was further underscored by the Regional HIV Coordinator, Dr. Felicia Amihere, who reported 449 new cases in the first nine months of 2025.
Labeling the situation a crisis that threatens the region’s human capital, Joseph Nelson issued a strong call to action. He urged a unified effort from all stakeholders to halt new infections, eliminate stigma, and strengthen vital services.
The establishment of the Regional Committee (ReCCOM) marks a critical step in decentralizing Ghana’s national HIV and AIDS response, as mandated by the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 (Act 938) and L.I. 2403 of 2020.
The committee is tasked with accelerating the regional fight against the epidemic by ensuring inclusive access to prevention, treatment, and care, thereby guaranteeing that no one is left behind.
In a ceremony to inaugurate the nine-member Regional Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission (ReCCOM), Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson expressed grave concern over the region’s HIV statistics.
Citing data that shows 1,120 new infections in 2024, he highlighted a persistent five-year trend of approximately three new daily cases.
“The Western Region, like the nation as a whole, continues to face challenges in reducing new HIV infections, eliminating stigma and discrimination, and ensuring equitable access to treatment and care for all. New HIV infections remain unacceptably high.
The 2024 data from the Ghana AIDS Commission indicated that 1,120 persons were newly infected with HIV in our region an average of three new infections each day. Unfortunately, these high numbers have remained consistent over the past five years.
I have directed the Regional Technical Coordinator to present the detailed regional figures for our collective appreciation of the magnitude of the task before us.” He said.
The Western Regional HIV Coordinator, Dr. Felicia Amihere, has reported 449 new HIV cases in the first nine months of 2025, indicating a rising prevalence.
This comes after the region was ranked fourth in the country in the 2024 estimates, with 24,885 people living with HIV.
To combat this, Dr. Amihere appealed to the public to follow preventive measures, countering the false belief among many youths that HIV is not a real threat.
“Our prevalence has increased from 1.55% in the 2023 sentinel survey to 1.65% in 2024. This rise is largely because many youth believe HIV is no longer a threat,” stated the coordinator. “I want to tell the youth directly that HIV is real.
The reason people are not developing AIDS is due to effective medications, not the absence of the virus. We plead with the public to adhere to preventive measures.” She added.
