The Health Policy Project ended in 2016. Work continued under Health Policy Plus (HP+) until 2022.

Ghana

Overview

Get the Country Results Summary (pdf)

The first case of HIV in Ghana was reported in 1986 and spread slowly but steadily until 2003, when prevalence peaked at 3.1 percent. In 2008, adult HIV prevalence was estimated at 1.8 percent, and the epidemic is currently considered stable. However, married women are nearly three times as likely to be HIV-infected than women who have never been married, and other segments of the population face higher risk of contracting the virus, including female sex workers and men who have sex with men.

With high fertility and low contraceptive prevalence, many Ghanaians do not have access to family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH) services. In response, officials in Ghana recognize the need for a comprehensive approach in FP/RH and HIV programs with a focus on meeting the needs of key populations at higher risk.

What We Do

In Ghana, the Health Policy Project (HPP) is collaborating with partners and stakeholders to prevent the spread of HIV and assist Ghana in its development of a National Strategic Plan for HIV. The HPP program is also providing technical assistance to health officials and government leaders in using the GAP Tool, which helps develop strategic plans to increase access to FP/RH services for all Ghanaians.

Promote Evidence-Based Decisionmaking to Prevent HIV

HPP is conducting analyses to determine the cost of services that prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and for HIV prevention services that target key populations at higher risk. The data will help Ghanaian HIV stakeholders use evidence-based planning and decisionmaking to develop effective policies and programs that prevent HIV.

HPP is also building upon earlier work from the Health Policy Initiative to promote evidence-based decisionmaking centered on the Goals Model and help secure greater funding and resources for HIV programs. Using recent data, HPP has updated the Goals Model for Ghana and is developing different scenarios to help leaders and stakeholders understand the effects of funding levels and allocation patterns on the overall impact of their programs.

Use Data and Tools to Expand Family Planning

The HPP program in Ghana trains government leaders and health officials in applying the GAP Tool—a simple software tool that helps policymakers understand the costs associated with expanding FP services and identify existing funding gaps. As a result, they are better equipped to develop planning and programs that maximize the country’s financial resources and increase the use of contraceptives and other FP methods.

Recent Progress and Achievements

HPP has gathered and analyzed data for costing mother-to-child HIV transmission and services to key populations at higher risk, and presented initial findings to stakeholders and donors in Ghana.
HPP has provided training to more than 20 HIV stakeholders in using Goals for evidence-based decisionmaking, as well as building capacity related to rules and regulations for to the Global Fund proposal process.

News

How Can People Living with HIV and Key Populations Access Justice in Ghana?

Client Confidentiality Policy Launched for CHRAJ Stigma and Discrimination Reporting System

Vice-President of Ghana Oversees Launch of New System to Address HIV-Related Discrimination

Publications and Resources

Designing a Stigma and Discrimination Reporting System: Assuring Justice for People Living with HIV and Key Populations in Ghana
Drawing on lessons learned from other contexts, the Health Policy Project collated international best practices, research on legal codes and systems in Ghana, and consultations with key stakeholders to determine approaches to monitoring discrimination. Using this information, the report the describes internet- and text message-based platforms for reporting HIV-related discrimination to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), providing a mechanism for civil society organizations to report cases to CHRAJ, track case progress, and use data on stigma and discrimination to guide future advocacy on HIV- and other related policies in Ghana.

Discrimination Reporting System: User Guide
The Discrimination Reporting System User Guide outlines how civil society organizations in Ghana can use a web-based platform to report cases of discrimination to the country's Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

Discrimination Reporting System brochure
This brochure provides an overview of a web-based platform that civil society organizations in Ghana can use to report cases of discrimination to the country's Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

National HIV and AIDS, STI Policy - Republic of Ghana
The USAID- and PEPFAR-funded Health Policy Project assisted the Ghana AIDS Commission with updating the country's National HIV/AIDS and STI Policy. The updated policy reflects the state-of-the-art and best practices in HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment, especially in the areas of human rights and key populations.

Unit Cost of Providing Key HIV Services to Female Sex Workers and Males Who Have Sex With Males: Ghana
As part of its overall effort to promote evidence-based policies, decision making, planning, and advocacy, the Health Policy Project has worked with the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and other important stakeholders to conduct a costing study of services to key populations in Ghana (males having sex with males and female sex workers).

Unit Cost of Providing Key Services at the Facility Level to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV: Ghana
As part of its overall effort to promote evidence-based policies, decision making, and planning and advocacy, the Health Policy Project has worked with the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and other important stakeholders to conduct a costing study of services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Ghana GAP Tool: Estimating the Resources Required to Achieve Family Planning Targets in Ghana
In collaboration with Ghana's National Population Council, HPP has developed an application of the GAP Tool specifically tailored to estimate the resources required to achieve family planning goals in Ghana.

The Impact of Different Scenarios of HIV Prevention, Treatment, and Mitigation Coverage in Ghana: Analysis Using the Goals Model
At the request of the Ghana AIDS Commission and other in-country stakeholders, HPP updated an analysis of the effects of various funding scenarios on program impact and HIV incidence and coverage in Ghana.

Goals Model
HPP’s Goals Model helps countries respond to the HIV epidemic by showing how the amount and allocation of funding is related to the achievement of national goals, such as the reduction in HIV prevalence and expansion of care and support.