Youth Minister warns of rising HIV infections, teenage pregnancy among Ghanaian youth

The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo, has expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of HIV infections and teenage pregnancies among Ghana’s youth, describing the trend as a growing threat to public health and national development.

Delivering the State of the Youth Address in Accra, the Minister disclosed that young people continue to account for a large share of new HIV infections.

In 2023, about 27.4 percent of the 17,774 new reported cases occurred among the youth population.

He added that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have also risen sharply, with a 32 percent prevalence rate recorded in 2024, attributing the situation to inadequate access to sexual and reproductive health information and services.

“The steady decline in HIV testing among young people is alarming,” Hon. Opare Addo cautioned.

"We must intensify education and provide accessible services to empower our youth to make informed health decisions.”

He further highlighted that teenage pregnancy remains a serious social and health challenge, with more than 100,000 cases reported annually and a 19 percent prevalence among girls aged 15 to 19 years.

The Minister warned that early pregnancies continue to derail the education and future aspirations of many young girls, exposing them to maternal health risks and long-term economic hardship.

“Teenage pregnancy is not just a health concern — it’s a national development issue,” he stressed.

“Each girl who drops out of school because of pregnancy represents a setback in our collective progress.”

Hon. Opare Addo called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, civil society, and the media to intensify advocacy and interventions aimed at reducing HIV infections and teenage pregnancies.

He emphasized the need for comprehensive sexuality education, youth-friendly health services, and open community dialogue.

Reaffirming government’s commitment under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, the Minister assured that policies and programmes are being implemented to promote youth empowerment, improve health outcomes, and create equal opportunities for all.

“This address is not meant to paint a bleak picture,” he said, “but to inspire hope and reaffirm our government’s resolve to close existing gaps and provide the right environment for our youth to succeed.”

He concluded by urging all stakeholders to work together toward building “the Ghana we want — a nation where every young person is healthy, confident, and capable of shaping the country’s future.”

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith