The Ghana AIDS Commission is a supra-ministerial and multi-sectoral body in Ghana. It was established by Act 2016, Act 938 of the Parliament of Ghana. It consists of 47 members including the President and the Vice President, 15 Ministers of State and two members of the Parliament. The Commission works within a wider national response involving government institutions, health agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, communities and other stakeholders. The multisectoral approach recognises that HIV and AIDS cannot be addressed by the health sector alone.
Mission The Ghana AIDS Commission aims to establish policies on the HIV and AIDS epidemic. It also directs activities in response to HIV and AIDS in Ghana.
Vision Their vision is to have an AIDS-free Ghana with all people able to access quality prevention, treatment, care, and support services.
Core values Ghana AIDS Commission lists as values integrity, accountability, inclusivity, evidence-based decision making, and respect for human rights.
Functions Source:
Formulate policies and strategies on HIV and AIDS and determine program priorities Provide high-level advocacy for HIV and AIDS prevention and control Provide leadership in national planning, supervision, and support of the HIV and AIDS program Plan and coordinate activities in relations to the national HIV and AIDS response Mobilize, control, and manage resources available for the achievement of the object of Commission and monitor the allocation and utilisation of the resources Foster linkages among stakeholders Generate strategic information to influence policy, strategies, planning, and use of resources Promote research and dissemination of information on HIV and AIDS and documentation of persons living with HIV and AIDS Monitor and evaluate programs of the national HIV and AIDS response
Legal objectives The Commission's legal objective is to formulate policy on the HIV and AIDS epidemic, direct and coordinate activities in response to HIV and AIDS. Its mandate therefore goes beyond direct healthcare provision and focuses strongly on national coordination, policy direction and strategic oversight.
History and establishment The first HIV case in Ghana was recorded in 1986. Responding to the emerging epidemic the National AIDS/STI Control Programme {NACP} was established in 1987 to lead the national response.
Establishment of the Ghana AIDS Commission The Ghana AIDS Commission was established in September 2000. Its establishment represented an important development in Ghana's response to HIV and AIDS because it provided a national institutional framework for coordinating a multisectoral response. The Commission was later given a statutory mandate under the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2002 (Act 613). This legal framework was subsequently repealed and replaced by the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 (Act 938).
Legal framework The Ghana AIDS Commission operates under the Ghana AIDS Commission, Act 2016 (Act 938). The Act also establishes the Commission as a body corporate, which means that the Commission has a legally recognised institutional identity and can acquire and hold property and enter into contracts and other transactions necessary for performing it functions.
RTI The Ghana AIDS Commission upholds the constitutional right of every person to access information held by public institutions, in line with the Right To Information Act, 2019, (Act 989). In compliance with the Act, the Ghana AIDS Commission has established a Right To Information desk within the Administrative Division, operated by a designated information officer. However, as stipulated in the Act, access to certain information may be subject to exemptions necessary for protection of public interest. Exemptions
Information relating to the President or Vice President of Ghana Information affecting the security of the state Information relating to cabinet proceedings Personal information Information relating to law enforcement and public safety Information affecting International Relations Information relating to economic and other national interest Information relating to taxation Economic information of third parties Internal working information of public institutions Parliamentary privilege, free trial, and contempt of court matters Privileged information Information whose disclosure is contrary to the protection of public interest
Divisions Administrations Technical Services Policy And Planning Division Research, Monitoring, And Evaluation Division Finance Division Internal Audit Division Corporate Affairs Legal Unit Regional Officers
GAC directors Isaac Kwao, Director of Research, Monitoring, And Evaluation Division Abdul-Moomen Siddique, Director of Finance and Administration John Eliasu Mahama, Acting Director of Public Policy Josephine Oppong-Adusah, Executive Assistant
Focus areas A public health approach to service delivery In line with it mandate, the Commission adopts a public health approach in providing a wide range of services to persons infected and affected by HIV, key population, prisons inmate, orphans and vulnerable children and the general population through the community-based system and health system.
National coordination, local delivery The secretariat of Ghana AIDS Commission is established to provide technical and administrative support to the Commission and its technical committee as the executing/implementing arm of the Commission, it is the focal point for HIV and AIDS policy research, program planning, implementation and monitoring for national, regional and district level activities.
Key programs Ghana AIDS Commission has six (6) key programs. HIV Prevention Comprehensive Prevention programs, including education, condom distribution, and PrEP access across region. Education & Awareness To provide leadership and coordination for the implementation of Ghana's National strategic plan on HIV and AIDS. Testing Services Free, confidential HIV testing and counseling at health facilities and mobile outreach location nationwide. PMTCT Programs Prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs integrated into maternal and child health services. Research & Monitoring Epidemiological surveillance, operational research and monitoring and evaluation of the national response. Treatment & Care Ensuring access to antiretroviral therapy and quality healthcare services for all people living with HIV. Publications
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