Mr Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister, who inaugurated the ReCCOM at Sekondi, said the constitution of the committee was in fulfilment of the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 (Act 938), and that it marked a significant milestone in strengthening the decentralised co-ordination of Ghana’s national HIV/AIDS response.

He stated that the Western Region, like the nation as a whole, continued to face challenges in reducing new HIV infections, eliminating stigma and discrimination, while ensuring equitable access to treatment and care for all.

The Regional Minister said new HIV infections remained unacceptably high, noting that the 2024 data from the Ghana AIDS Commission showed 1,120 new HIV infections in the region, representing an average of three new infections each day.

“Unfortunately, these high numbers have remained consistent over the past five years,” Mr Nelson added.
He said: “The Western Region, endowed with abundant natural resources and positioned as a hub of national development, carries a vision of wealth creation and shared prosperity.

“Yet, if we do not work assiduously to sustain the gains made in the fight against HIV and AIDS, especially in the wake of dwindling donor support, our region stands to be among the hardest hit.”

The Minister stated that the human resource base that drove industries, communities, and families was at stake.
It was, therefore, imperative that ReCCOM doubled its efforts, mobilise its collective resources, and pursue with renewed vigour the prevention mandate of the Committee, Mr Nelson said.

He also called on government agencies, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, the media, and private sector among other stakeholders to collaborate and work with unwavering commitment to halt new infections, eliminate stigma, and strengthen systems for prevention, treatment, and care in the region.

Dr Felicia Amihere, the Western Regional HIV Coordinator, Ghana Health Service, expressed worry over the increasing rate of new HIV infections, and called on the citizenry to adhere to preventive measures like abstinence, being faithful to one sexual partner, and use of condoms to help reduce the trend.

Mr Dramani Yakubu, the Western Regional Technical Coordinator, Ghana AIDS Commission, said the ReCCOM had a four-year tenure to ensure that no one was left behind in the continuum of prevention, treatment, and care.