President John Dramani Mahama has expressed deep concern over the alarming rise in HIV infections, particularly among young people in Ghana.
He attributed the growing trend to what he described as a “failure in communications,” persistent stigma, and limited access to comprehensive sexual health education.
The President made these remarks during an address at the launch of Ghana’s 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
“We are also alarmed by the rising HIV rates, especially amongst our young people,” Mr. Mahama said.
“This points to a failure in communications, stigma, and limited access to sexual health education. Prevention is essential, but empowerment is the key.”
The President emphasised the urgent need for a national, youth-driven response to tackle the issue. He called on government agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, and community leaders to come together to develop and promote accessible, inclusive, and stigma-free sexual health education and services.
Mahama stressed that addressing the issue is not only a health imperative but also critical to achieving Ghana’s SDG targets, especially those related to good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10).
“Empowering our young people with the right information and tools is the only sustainable way to stop the spread,” he added, urging stakeholders to adopt innovative, culturally sensitive communication strategies that speak directly to the youth.
The 2025 VNR report serves as a progress tracker on Ghana’s implementation of the SDGs. This year’s review placed a strong focus on health, education, gender equality, and youth empowerment—issues President Mahama said are interconnected and must be addressed holistically.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com
