The Ahafo Ano South West District Assembly commemorated World AIDS Day on Monday, December 1, 2025, at Mankranso with a call for stronger collaboration in overcoming disruptions and transforming the national HIV response. This year’s celebration was held on the theme “Overcoming Disruptions, Transforming the AIDS Response,” with the sub-theme “Africa Unites Against AIDS.”\r\nThe event brought together key stakeholders, including traditional leaders, department heads, health institutions, civil society organisations, security agencies and community representatives.\r\nThe District Coordinating Director, Mr Paul Atsu Agbezudor, gave the purpose of gathering and emphasised the need for collective effort in combating HIV/AIDS in the District and nationwide.\r\nDelivering the HIV/AIDS Situation Report, the District Focal Person and Head of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Mr Mengisto Opoku Akowuah, shared worrying but actionable statistics from the 2024 National HIV and Subnational Estimates.\r\nAccording to the report, Ghana currently has 334,721 persons living with HIV, with women accounting for nearly two-thirds of all infections. Although the country is recording a gradual decline in infections in most regions, 15,290 new infections and 12,614 AIDS-related deaths were recorded in 2024.\r\nMr Akowuah noted that data from the Ghana AIDS Commission shows that Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern Regions continue to record the highest numbers of persons living with HIV, with Ashanti Region alone accounting for 63,159 cases and 2,997 new infections in 2024.\r\nFor the Ahafo Ano South West District, the focal person reported that 413 people are currently living with HIV, made up of 125 males, 262 females and 26 children aged 0–14. He stressed that stigma continues to be a major barrier to people seeking timely testing and treatment, despite the availability of HIV services in over 800 facilities across the country.\r\n“This is not just about statistics,” he said. “These are lives that could have been saved through earlier testing, timely treatment and strong adherence support.”\r\nSpeeches were also delivered by Dr Jerry Adu Amankwaah, District Director of Health; Nana Adu Pako, Akwamuhene of the Mankranso Traditional Area and Hon. Abubakar Sedik, District Chief Executive, who gave the keynote address. The DCE commended the government for sustaining investment in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities and urged communities to support the fight by rejecting stigma and encouraging voluntary testing.\r\nAs part of the celebration, participants received free health screening and there was a voluntary blood donation exercise to support health facilities in the district.\r\nThe ceremony ended with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to strengthen the District’s HIV prevention efforts and ensure that no one is left behind in the national HIV response.\r\n