President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has called for a bold, youth-driven national conversation to address the rising HIV infection rates among young Ghanaians.
Speaking at the launch of Ghana’s 2025 Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, President Mahama emphasized that the trend is “deeply worrying and avoidable,” highlighting serious gaps in communication, education, and support systems.
“We are also alarmed by the rising HIV rates, especially amongst our young people,” President Mahama said. “This points to a failure in communications, stigma, and limited access to sexual health education.”
To tackle this issue, President Mahama advocates for a national conversation led by young people themselves, supported by institutions, families, schools, health workers, and the media. “We need a bold, youth-led national conversation on prevention, supported by our schools, our health workers, our parents, and the media,” he added.
The President stressed that while prevention is essential, empowering young people with the tools to make informed choices is key to long-term solutions. “Prevention is essential, but empowerment is the key,” he stated.
This initiative is part of President Mahama’s broader efforts to prioritize youth development and address pressing national challenges. In his 2025 New Year address, he emphasized the importance of empowering Ghana’s youth, stressing that “your energy, creativity, and passion are vital to our future success”.