Ghana's HIV prevention programme is facing a significant funding shortfall, with the country requiring $25.7 million annually to support prevention efforts. However, domestic spending in this area was only $400,000 in 2024, according to John Eliasu Mahama, Acting Director of Policy and Planning at the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC). This has prompted officials to explore alternative solutions, including the local manufacturing of antiretroviral drugs.
The 15th National HIV and AIDS Partnership Forum in Accra brought together government officials, development partners, and civil society groups to discuss the country's HIV response and chart a path to sustaining it without over-relying on outside money. The forum's theme, "40 Years of HIV Response in Ghana, Celebrating Partnerships, Transforming Lives, Sustaining the Future," highlighted the need for local participation in financing the response. Mahama noted that overall HIV spending has quadrupled since 2005.
Total expenditure on Ghana's HIV response grew from $28.4 million in 2005 to $125.2 million in 2025, with spending peaking at $127.8 million in 2021. In 2025, public sector funding contributed approximately $47.4 million, while private sector financing accounted for $38.9 million. International partners contributed a similar amount, with domestic public and private sources making up about 69 percent of reported HIV expenditure.
Despite this progress, Mahama warned that prevention programmes and the procurement of essential HIV commodities remain exposed to funding shortfalls. Ghana is working towards the global 95-95-95 targets by 2030, which aim to ensure that 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
To close the funding gap, Mahama suggested protecting and increasing government budget allocations for HIV programmes, channelling more District Assemblies Common Fund resources into the response, and folding HIV services into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) benefit package. The government is also considering setting up a National HIV and AIDS Fund with seed funding from government.
Dr Alhaji Abubakar Wayo, Chief Director at the Office of the President, announced that the government is exploring local and regional production of HIV medicines, diagnostics, and other essential health commodities. This move aims to reduce Ghana's dependence on foreign donors and imported supplies, and to build domestic production capacity. Wayo stressed that local production should complement, rather than disrupt, access to quality-assured commodities.
Ghana recorded 13,951 new HIV infections and 12,051 AIDS-related deaths in 2025, with an estimated 337,435 people living with HIV nationwide. The government is working with partners to strengthen national ownership of the HIV response ahead of the 2030 deadline to end AIDS as a public health threat. Officials are urging metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies to build HIV interventions into their local development plans using available resources.
Key points
- Ghana faces a $25.7m annual funding gap for HIV prevention.
- The government is exploring local manufacturing of antiretroviral drugs to reduce dependence on foreign donors.
- Ghana aims to achieve the global 95-95-95 targets by 2030.
