A new report from the University of Ghana School of Public Health, the National AIDS Commission, and the Noguchi Institute for Medical Research, presented to the Ghana Health Service, has revealed that about 6 in 10 (56.6%) of transgender women in Ghana have engaged in transactional sex.

This translates to approximately 1,667 out of the 2,946 transgender women (TGW) in Ghana who have received money or goods in exchange for sex at least once.

"More than half (56.6%) of the TGW participants had ever received goods or money for sex."

Alarmingly, the report also indicates that 193 transgender women (11% of those involved in transactional sex) never used a condom with their paying partners. Furthermore, 56.7% of these women reported only occasional condom use.

This is particularly concerning given the high prevalence of HIV among transgender individuals in Ghana, where more than 4 in 10 (48.2%) are living with the virus. The intersection of transactional sex and inconsistent condom use heightens the risk of HIV transmission, exacerbating an already critical public health issue.

The report calls for intensified HIV testing efforts to identify undiagnosed individuals and connect them with necessary treatment. It advocates for the expansion of testing services to include innovative approaches such as self-testing.

Additionally, the report highlights the urgent need for targeted educational campaigns to dispel persistent myths and misconceptions about HIV, which continue to hinder effective prevention and treatment efforts.