Ghana allocated a total of $126.4 million to HIV-related activities in 2022, reflecting a slight decrease of 1% compared to the $127.8 million spent in 2021. This information was revealed in the 2022 National AIDS Spending Assessment (NASA) report, presented by Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, in Accra.
Of the total expenditure, the Ghanaian government contributed $51.7 million, the private sector $20.6 million, and international partners, including the Global Fund and the U.S. government, provided $54.2 million.
Notably, the contribution from international organizations, which primarily covered treatment costs, saw a 3% increase from 2021 to 2022.
The report also highlighted a significant 19% increase in the government’s spending on HIV-related activities during the same period.
According to Dr. Atuahene, HIV treatment, care, and support accounted for the largest share of the expenditure, with USD 68 million (53% of the total) directed towards these areas.
However, the assessment identified gaps in other crucial areas such as social protection, development synergies, and HIV-related research, which received relatively less funding.
Dr. Atuahene noted that persons living with HIV were the primary beneficiaries of the funds, receiving 54% of the total expenditure, followed by the general population (6.2%) and key populations (3.5%).
The report also outlined the five key HIV prevention pillars in 2022: adult and young people living with HIV, key populations, condom use, Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision.
NASA, conducted annually since 2005, serves as a strategic tool for tracking public, private, and international spending on HIV and AIDS across various sectors in support of Ghana’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2021-2025.
The data from NASA also supports the country’s reporting to the United Nations General Assembly on financing for HIV and AIDS interventions.
Dr. Atuahene emphasized that NASA goes beyond financial evaluation, stating, “It is a strategic tool that empowers us to assess the impact of interventions, identify areas for improvement, and align efforts with the evolving needs of communities.”
