He described the trend as “deeply troubling and entirely preventable.”
Speaking at the launch of Ghana’s 2025 Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, President Mahama noted that the rising HIV rates among young people point to significant gaps in awareness, education, and support mechanisms.
"We are also alarmed by the rising HIV rates, especially amongst our young people. This points to a failure in communications, stigma, and limited access to sexual health education", he stated.
In a report by graphiconline.com on July 8, 2025, President Mahama called for a nationwide dialogue on HIV prevention, driven by young people but strongly backed by families, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, and the media.
He emphasized that Ghana must go beyond merely prioritizing prevention by equipping its youth with accurate information and the necessary resources to make informed choices.
"Prevention is essential, but empowerment is the key," he emphasised.
President Mahama made the remarks while assessing Ghana's progress toward achieving the SDGs, with only five years remaining until the 2030 global deadline.
