In a renewed effort to curb rising HIV infections, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has announced plans to install condom vending machines across the country, a bold move designed to make condom access easier, more private, and free from social judgment.
The initiative comes at a time when health officials are alarmed by a steady decline in condom use among young people, despite increased advocacy for safe sex and reproductive health education.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 World AIDS Day in Accra, the Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Khamacelle Prosper Akanbong, said the vending machines will be placed at youth-friendly and high-traffic locations such as sports stadiums, lorry stations, bars, and nightclubs.
“People still face stigma when they go to pharmacies to buy condoms,” Dr. Akanbong explained. “You walk in and ask for a condom, and everyone looks at you. That alone discourages many young people. But if we make condoms easily accessible through vending machines, people can buy them discreetly without judgment.”
The machines, according to Dr. Akanbong, will not only dispense condoms but also deliver short educational messages about HIV prevention and safe sex practices. He said the idea had been implemented years ago but discontinued due to the breakdown of old machines. The Commission now plans to reintroduce improved versions with better technology and messaging components.
“We started it some time ago, but all the machines broke down,” he noted. “This time, we need innovative ones that are durable and interactive — as you pick your condoms, you receive messages about prevention options like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).”
The proposal, he revealed, is currently before the National Security Secretariat for review and clearance before deployment begins. The move follows new data showing that 15,290 new HIV infections were recorded in 2024, with young people accounting for most of the cases. Ghana currently has over 334,000 people living with HIV, and only 60 percent are aware of their status.
Limited access, embarrassment, and social stigma continue to discourage many from purchasing or carrying condoms — a situation the Commission hopes to reverse through these discreet vending points.
The initiative is part of a broader review of the National Condom and Lubricant Use Strategy, aimed at finding new, youth-centered approaches to increasing condom adoption and protecting public health.
This year’s World AIDS Day will be observed under the theme: “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”
With the vending machine rollout, the Ghana AIDS Commission hopes to transform not just access but also public attitudes, normalising safe sex, promoting privacy, and empowering young people to make responsible choices about their health.
By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei