The National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP) has revealed that close to 50,000 female condoms have expired in Ghana due to low patronage. According to Dr. Anthony Ashinyo, Deputy Programme Manager of the NACP, the expired condoms were part of large consignments procured to promote safer sex among women, but public disinterest rendered them unused.
“We bought a lot of female condoms in the past, but they were not being used. Over time, they expired, and we had to throw them away,” Dr. Ashinyo told the Ghana News Agency, adding that the agency now procures smaller quantities because demand remains low.
He attributed the situation to cultural and social barriers, noting that many women associate the use of female condoms with mistrust or promiscuity. “Many believe that using female condoms means they cannot be trusted by their partners, so they rely on male condoms instead,” he explained. Dr. Ashinyo also lamented reports of misuse, including women removing the rims to make bangles and clothing accessories.
Dr. Ashinyo warned that the low condom usage, particularly among women, poses a threat to Ghana’s fight against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. He stressed that condoms are vital biomedical tools for preventing infection by blocking the exchange of bodily fluids during intercourse. The decline in usage, he added, has disrupted the supply chain, with pharmacies and health facilities now stocking limited quantities.
The 2024 National HIV and AIDS Estimates Report revealed that about 334,721 people are currently living with HIV in Ghana, with 15,290 new infections and 12,614 AIDS-related deaths recorded last year.
The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, announced plans to install condom vending machines at public places like transport terminals and universities to improve access. He also urged Ghanaians to support people living with HIV, emphasizing dignity, compassion, and awareness as key to ending stigma.
