The Ghana AIDS Commission has announced plans to introduce an HIV preventive drug in 2026 as part of a broader national strategy to curb the spread of the virus, which saw over 15,000 new infections last year.
Speaking on Tuesday, September 30, the Commission’s Director-General, Dr. Prosper Akanbong, stated that the rollout would enhance current prevention efforts while laying the groundwork for local vaccine production.
“We have made the vaccine a key pillar of our HIV prevention programme,” Dr. Akanbong said. “While we’ll initially import it, local pharmaceutical companies are already preparing to manufacture it here in Ghana.”
Dr. Akanbong also confirmed that the Commission has engaged with several pharmaceutical firms, with support from GIZ (German Development Cooperation), to ensure a sustainable and locally driven rollout.
“Together with GIZ, we are making steady progress. By late 2026 or early 2027, we expect to begin local production of the vaccine,” he added.
The initiative is part of Ghana’s renewed commitment to public health innovation, domestic capacity building, and the long-term goal of eliminating HIV transmission nationwide.
