Accra, Ghana, October 31, 2026: Ghana faces a significant financing gap in its HIV prevention response, with domestic expenditure reaching only about US$400,000 in 2024 against an estimated annual requirement of US$25.7 million, according to the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).
The shortfall of approximately US$25.3 million raises concerns about the country's ability to sustain prevention programmes and reduce new infections as it works towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Mr John Eliasu Mahama, Acting Director of Policy and Planning at the GAC, disclosed the figures at the 15th National HIV and AIDS Partnership Forum in Accra, where he called for increased domestic investment and alternative financing arrangements to reduce dependence on international development partners.
Presenting on the sustainability of Ghana's national HIV response and domestic resource mobilisation, he said prevention and the procurement of essential commodities remained particularly vulnerable to funding shortfalls despite growth in overall HIV programme expenditure.
Ghana's expenditure on HIV programmes increased from US$28.4 million in 2005 to US$125.2 million in 2025. The highest expenditure recorded during the period was US$127.8 million in 2021.
In 2025, public sector funding contributed approximately US$47.4 million, while private sector financing and international sources each contributed US$38.9 million.
The figures indicate that domestic public and private sources accounted for about 69 per cent of reported HIV expenditure, with international partners providing the remaining 31 per cent.
However, the Commission cautioned that growth in overall spending must be considered alongside changes in programme coverage, expenditure classifications, exchange rates and inflation.
Mr Mahama said additional resources would be needed to achieve Ghana's 2030 HIV targets, particularly as treatment requirements were expected to account for the largest projected increase in funding needs.
Commodity requirements alone are projected to account for approximately 25 per cent of total HIV resource needs, with demand expected to more than double.
Ghana is working towards the global 95-95-95 targets, which require 95 per cent of people living with HIV to know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed to receive antiretroviral treatment, and 95 per cent of those receiving treatment to achieve viral suppression.
To strengthen the financial sustainability of the response, the GAC is proposing increased government budgetary allocations for HIV programmes at both central and local government levels.
Other measures include strengthening the use of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), integrating HIV services and commodities into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) benefit package, and operationalising the National HIV and AIDS Fund through seed funding and increased public contributions.
The Commission has also inaugurated a Resource Mobilisation Committee to examine financing options and lead advocacy efforts. It is intensifying the tracking of DACF disbursements and expenditure on HIV interventions, while guidelines for using the Fund's allocations for HIV activities are under review.
Mr Mahama said increased investment in antiretroviral therapy, HIV testing, condom programming and stigma reduction would be critical to strengthening prevention and improving the use of available resources.
He called for shared responsibility among government, the private sector, civil society and development partners to close the funding gap and sustain progress in the national HIV response.
