Joseph Otsibah 
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has inaugurated a nine-member Regional Committee in Greater Accra to strengthen oversight and coordination of HIV and AIDS interventions in the region.
The swearing-in ceremony, held in Accra, was done in line with the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 (Act 938), which requires the establishment of regional committees to support the Commission’s work at the local level. Representing John Dramani Mahama, GAC Governing Board Chairperson Kakra Essamuah said the committee would act on behalf of the Commission in the region, as directed by the Board.
He urged members to work diligently to help Greater Accra achieve the 95-95-95 fast-track targets by 2030 — ensuring that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive sustained treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. Reaching these targets, he noted, is key to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo described the region as central to Ghana’s HIV response due to its large and mobile population. She called on all local assemblies to integrate HIV programmes into their development plans.
Acting GAC Director Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong revealed that the government is working to operationalise the National HIV and AIDS Fund to ensure sustainable local financing, especially as donor support declines. He encouraged the public to support the initiative by dialing *9898# to donate.
At a stakeholders’ forum held after the inauguration, health officials noted that although HIV prevalence, new infections, and AIDS-related deaths are gradually declining in Greater Accra—largely due to improved access to treatment—disparities remain across districts. They stressed the need for targeted, district-specific interventions to sustain and deepen progress.
PentNews Team
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