Low HIV Testing Among Men Skews Full Picture – GAC
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Low HIV Testing Among Men Skews Full Picture – GAC
The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Dr Kharmacelle Akanbong, has called for increased HIV testing among men, warning that persistently low testing rates are making it difficult to determine the full scale of Ghana’s HIV epidemic.
Dr Akanbong said women test for HIV more frequently than men, creating a testing gap that could leave many men living with the virus undiagnosed.
He made the remarks during a Media Capacity Building Session on HIV reporting, where he urged journalists to use their platforms to encourage Ghanaians to test regularly, know their HIV status and seek treatment promptly.
GAC calls for more HIV testing among men
According to Dr Akanbong, increasing HIV testing among men would provide a more representative picture of the country’s epidemic and help identify people who may otherwise remain undiagnosed.
He said the largest burden of new HIV infections is within the general population and stressed the need for greater attention to men as part of Ghana’s prevention efforts.
The GAC Director-General also encouraged the media to strengthen coverage of HIV testing and prevention among men and help reduce misconceptions that may discourage people from seeking testing.
Testing gap affects HIV response
The Ghana AIDS Commission says women account for about 65.7 per cent of people living with HIV in Ghana.
Dr Akanbong noted that the disparity should be considered alongside the difference in HIV testing rates between men and women and should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that men face a lower risk of HIV infection.
He said closing the testing and treatment gap among men would strengthen Ghana’s HIV response by helping more people know their status, access treatment and reduce the risk of onward transmission.
New HIV infections decline
The call for increased testing comes as Ghana continues efforts to reduce new HIV infections and improve treatment outcomes.
According to the Ghana AIDS Commission’s latest national estimates, new HIV infections declined from 16,189 cases in 2024 to 13,951 cases in 2025.
Despite the decline, the Commission says continued prevention efforts are necessary to sustain the progress and ensure that people living with HIV are identified and linked to treatment.
Dr Akanbong therefore urged journalists and other stakeholders to support efforts to promote HIV testing, particularly among men, as Ghana works to strengthen its response to the epidemic.
