Ghana is set to begin deploying condom vending machines across the country by the last quarter of 2026 as part of efforts to improve access to condoms and strengthen the national response to HIV/AIDS.
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) says the condom vending machines in Ghana will be installed at strategic public locations, including lorry stations, mosques, stadia and shopping malls.
The initiative is expected to allow people to access condoms privately without direct interaction with vendors, potentially addressing some of the social barriers that discourage people from obtaining HIV prevention supplies.
Also read: Gov’t exceeds treasury bills target by 30.3% as interest rates fall
The Commission is also seeking to extend the programme to public institutions, including washrooms in ministries, departments, agencies and financial institutions, under its national HIV and wellness policy.
Improve Access
The announcement was made during a dissemination meeting in Accra on the 2026 HIV Estimates and Projections.
The meeting reviewed the current state of Ghana’s HIV epidemic, identified gaps in the country’s response, and outlined interventions aimed at improving HIV prevention and treatment.
According to the Ghana AIDS Commission, the condom vending machine initiative forms part of a broader condom and lubricant strategy designed to increase access to HIV prevention tools while adapting distribution methods to the needs of different communities.
Speaking at the meeting, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, said the machines would be adapted to suit the characteristics of the communities where they would be deployed.
“The machines will not all be the same. Depending on the peculiar characteristics of a local population, the machine deployed could be electronically operated or manually administered,” he said.
Dr Akanbong recalled that Ghana had previously introduced condom vending machines that dispensed packs of three condoms for 50 pesewas.
However, the earlier programme eventually collapsed after several of the machines were vandalised.
“People were forcefully emptying the machines to take the coins,” he said.
The Director-General explained that the new generation of condom vending machines in Ghana would be designed to minimise the risk of vandalism and improve the sustainability of the initiative.
The move is expected to provide an additional channel for accessing condoms, particularly in public spaces where people may prefer privacy when obtaining HIV prevention products.
Dr Akanbong also assured the public that concerns over condom shortages reported last year had been addressed.
He said the government had procured additional supplies and that condoms are now available across the country.
The assurance comes as health authorities continue to encourage increased access to HIV prevention tools as part of efforts to reduce new infections and strengthen public health interventions.
Stronger HIV prevention efforts
Also speaking at the meeting, the World Health Organization Country Office Technical Lead for HIV, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis, Dr Kafui Senya, called for sustained efforts to reduce new HIV infections.
She also stressed the need to eliminate stigma and discrimination while ensuring equitable access to HIV prevention and treatment services.
Programme Manager of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, Dr Emmanuel Akwoulo Agyigewe Teviu, urged stakeholders to address persistent gaps in HIV prevention.
He called for stronger integrated and people-centred care to ensure that people living with HIV and those at risk can access appropriate prevention and treatment services.
Meanwhile, Governing Board Chair of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Kakra Essamuah, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s national HIV response.
The planned deployment of condom vending machines in Ghana is expected to form part of broader efforts to improve access to HIV prevention services and support the country’s goal of reducing new HIV infections.
Recent reports have indicated a rise in HIV infections across the country.