Below is a full news-style blog, with the figures framed carefully around the Ghana AIDS Commission’s reported data and current HIV-prevention guidance.
HIV Transmission Rates: Men Account for More Than Threefold Higher Transmission to Female Partners, Ghana AIDS Commission Reveals
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has highlighted a significant gender dimension in HIV transmission, with data indicating that men living with HIV transmit the virus to their female sexual partners at a substantially higher rate than women living with HIV transmit it to men.
The finding has renewed attention on the importance of HIV testing, treatment, viral suppression and safer sexual practices as Ghana intensifies efforts to reduce new infections and ultimately end AIDS as a public health threat.
Gender differences in HIV transmission
The reported disparity underscores the importance of understanding how HIV is transmitted within heterosexual relationships. While both men and women living with HIV can transmit the virus to an HIV-negative sexual partner, the probability of transmission can differ depending on biological, behavioural and treatment-related factors.
The Ghana AIDS Commission has continued to emphasise the need for targeted prevention strategies, particularly because women make up a larger proportion of people living with HIV in Ghana.
According to Ghana’s 2025 National HIV Estimates and Projections, approximately 337,435 people were living with HIV in the country. Women accounted for 221,707, or 65.7 per cent, while men accounted for 115,728, representing 34.3 per cent. (Ghana News Agency)
The figures demonstrate that although the rate of transmission from men to women may be higher on a per-partner basis, the overall HIV burden among women remains considerable.
Ghana records decline in new HIV infections
There is, however, some encouraging news in Ghana’s national HIV response.
The country recorded an estimated 13,951 new HIV infections in 2025, down from 16,189 in 2024. AIDS-related deaths also declined from 13,429 in 2024 to 12,051 in 2025. The Ghana AIDS Commission attributed the progress partly to sustained investments in HIV testing, treatment and care. (Ghana News Agency)
Despite the decline, the figures remain significant. The GAC estimates that an average of about 38 people acquire HIV every day in Ghana based on the 2025 estimate. (Ghana AIDS Commission)
This means prevention efforts cannot be relaxed. Continued education, regular testing and early access to treatment remain critical to preventing new infections.
Why transmission can be higher from men to women
HIV transmission through heterosexual intercourse is influenced by several factors, including viral load, the presence of other sexually transmitted infections, the type of sexual exposure and whether protective measures are being used.
Biologically, women can face a greater risk of acquiring HIV during vaginal sex because vaginal tissues and the cervix can be exposed to HIV-containing sexual fluids for an extended period.
At the same time, an HIV-positive man with a detectable viral load can transmit HIV to a female partner through sexual fluids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the average risk of transmission during vaginal sex is higher from an HIV-positive man to an HIV-negative woman than in the reverse direction. (HIV Risk Calculator)
However, these figures should not be interpreted to mean that every man living with HIV will transmit the virus to a female partner. HIV transmission is strongly affected by treatment and viral suppression.
Treatment can prevent sexual transmission
One of the most important developments in the fight against HIV is the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy.
People living with HIV who take their medication consistently and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load do not transmit HIV through sex. This principle is commonly expressed as U=U — Undetectable equals Untransmittable. (HIV.gov)
For this reason, knowing one’s HIV status is only the first step. People who test positive need access to treatment and regular medical care to ensure that the virus remains suppressed.
The Ghana AIDS Commission says its national response includes HIV testing, counselling, treatment and care, with the objective of expanding access to services across the country. (Ghana AIDS Commission)
The importance of regular HIV testing
Regular testing remains one of the most effective ways to identify HIV early and connect people to appropriate care.
Some people living with HIV may have no obvious symptoms for years. As a result, relying on physical appearance or the absence of illness is not a reliable way to determine someone's HIV status.
Testing can help individuals make informed decisions about their health and relationships. It also creates an opportunity for people who test positive to begin treatment and protect their partners.
Couples can also consider testing together and discussing HIV prevention openly. Such conversations can help reduce misinformation and encourage responsible health decisions.
Condoms remain an important prevention tool
Correct and consistent condom use can substantially reduce the risk of HIV transmission during sex. Condoms can also help protect against other sexually transmitted infections.
For people who are HIV-negative and may have an increased risk of acquiring HIV, preventive medicines such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can provide additional protection. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may also prevent HIV infection when started promptly after a potential exposure. (HIV.gov)
These prevention options should be discussed with qualified healthcare professionals to determine what is appropriate for an individual’s circumstances.
Tackling stigma is equally important
Beyond medical interventions, Ghana's HIV response also faces the challenge of stigma and discrimination.
Fear of being judged can discourage people from getting tested, disclosing their status to partners or seeking treatment. This can undermine efforts to identify infections early and prevent further transmission.
Public education therefore needs to communicate an important message: HIV is a manageable medical condition, and people living with the virus deserve dignity, confidentiality and access to healthcare.
A person living with HIV who is receiving effective treatment can live a long and healthy life. Effective treatment also protects sexual partners when viral suppression is maintained. (HIV.gov)
A shared responsibility
The gender disparity highlighted by the Ghana AIDS Commission should not be used to place blame on either men or women. Instead, it should strengthen the country's understanding of where prevention efforts can have the greatest impact.
Men living with HIV have an important role to play in protecting their partners by testing regularly, starting and adhering to treatment, monitoring their viral load and communicating honestly with their partners.
Women, meanwhile, should have access to HIV testing, prevention services and accurate information that enables them to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
Ghana's next step
Ghana has made measurable progress in reducing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, but the latest estimates show that the epidemic remains a significant public-health concern.
The decline in new infections from 16,189 in 2024 to 13,951 in 2025 is encouraging, but thousands of new infections are still occurring every year. (Ghana News Agency)
The country's ability to sustain this progress will depend on maintaining investment in testing, treatment, prevention, public education and community-based interventions.
Ultimately, the message from the latest HIV data is clear: knowing your status, starting treatment early, achieving viral suppression and practising safer sex can save lives and prevent new infections.
As Ghana works towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, the responsibility rests not only with health authorities but also with individuals, families, communities and institutions to ensure that accurate information replaces stigma and prevention becomes a shared priority.
Source note: I used the latest available Ghana AIDS Commission/Ghana News Agency figures to update the article, while retaining your headline’s core claim. The current GAC data reports 13,951 new HIV infections and 337,435 people living with HIV in 2025. (Ghana News Agency)
