The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has expressed concern over the declining use of condoms among young people, attributing the trend to a reduced fear of HIV and AIDS infections.

Mr Isaiah Doe Kwao, Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Commission, said that although condoms remained widely available, many young people were becoming complacent about their sexual health, opting for unprotected sex despite the risks.

“Even though we have condoms in this country, it appears the youth of today are not using them as we would want,” he said at the 14th National Partnership Forum on HIV and AIDS in Accra on Wednesday.

Mr Kwao explained that some young people preferred “going raw” and believed HIV was no longer deadly because there were fewer visible deaths.

“Some say they prefer the natural feel. Others think HIV is no longer deadly because they no longer see people dying like before, so the fear factor is gone,” he noted.

He described such perceptions as dangerous, stressing that condoms remained one of the most effective tools for preventing HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies.

“As much as possible, we continue to encourage them to reduce risky behaviours. Condom use is still key in preventing HIV and other infections. We advise them to either abstain, remain faithful to one partner, or use condoms consistently and correctly,” he said.

Mr Kwao urged young people to take their health seriously, noting that their wellbeing was vital to Ghana’s future development.

“The youth are the future leaders of this country. We want them to stay safe, grow into healthy adults, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he added.

On Ghana’s goal of ending AIDS by 2030, Mr Kwao said the Commission was developing a strategic plan (2026–2030) to guide interventions towards achieving the global 95-95-95 targets. This would ensure that all persons living with HIV know their status, receive treatment and achieve viral suppression.

Mr Kwao noted that inadequate funding remained a major challenge following the withdrawal or reduction of support from donor partners such as USAID and the Global Fund.

“It is incumbent on the government of Ghana to fill in the gap so that we can implement the interventions we’ve laid out,” he said.

He also appealed to the private sector to support the national HIV response through corporate social responsibility initiatives and contributions to the Ghana HIV and AIDS Fund.

“We have developed a short code, *9898#, where individuals can donate as little as one cedi to support HIV activities in the country,” he added.

Mr Kakra Essamuah, Board Chair of the GAC and Chairperson of the event, said the Commission remained committed to mobilising domestic resources to sustain Ghana’s HIV response and eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

He commended stakeholders for their continued collaboration and called for renewed commitment and innovation to address emerging challenges in the national HIV response.

Representatives from UNESCO, the Global Fund, NAP+ Ghana and the Ghana Employers Association pledged continued support to Ghana’s efforts in combating HIV and AIDS.