Nearly 20,000 People Living With HIV in Bono Region — Ghana AIDS Commission Sounds Alarm Over Rising Infections
Region records 875 new infections as officials call for urgent interventions
- 19,979 people living with HIV; 875 new infections recorded
- Bono’s HIV prevalence (2.22%) remains above national average
- Officials urge stronger education, testing, and stigma reduction
Nearly 20,000 residents of the Bono Region are currently living with HIV, according to new data released by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).
The Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Technical Coordinator of the Commission, Ahmed Ibrahim Bambila, revealed that the region has recorded a total of 19,979 people living with HIV, alongside 875 new infections, a situation he described as deeply concerning.
Mr. Bambila made the disclosure in Sunyani during the inauguration of the Bono Regional Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission (RECCOM) on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The nine-member committee, chaired by Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa, is tasked with spearheading HIV prevention, coordination, and care efforts across the region.
He explained that the persistent rise in cases is driven by several factors, including low condom use, multiple sexual partnerships, stigma and discrimination, poor sexual health education, migration, transactional sex, and limited access to HIV-related services.
The 2024 Regional HIV Estimates place the Bono Region’s HIV prevalence at 2.22% among people aged 15–49, which remains above the national average.
Breakdown of HIV Prevalence by District/Municipality
| District/Municipality | People Living With HIV | Prevalence (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Dormaa East District | 2,715 | 5.36 |
| Berekum Municipality | 2,701 | 3.33 |
| Sunyani Municipality | 3,335 | 2.22 |
| Wenchi Municipality | 2,153 | 2.46 |
| Jaman South Municipality | 1,644 | 2.09 |
| Dormaa Central Municipality | 1,693 | 2.03 |
| Banda District | 406 | 2.03 |
| Tain District | 1,631 | 1.97 |
| Dormaa West District | 584 | 1.68 |
| Berekum West District | 548 | 1.51 |
| Sunyani West Municipality | 1,482 | 1.43 |
| Jaman North District | 1,087 | 1.29 |
Mr. Bambila called on community stakeholders, health facilities, civil society groups, and traditional leaders to intensify public education, fight stigma, and promote safe sexual practices, while expanding access to HIV testing and treatment across the region.
