"Global priorities are changing. Fiscal pressures are tightening. Health emergencies are testing our systems. In such a moment, Africa must step forward with vision and leadership. We must form our agenda, define priorities and build strong, sustainable self-reliant systems," she said.

She said this at the opening of the 23rd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2025).

The five-day conference, which Ghana is hosting for the first time, is on the theme; "Africa in Action: catalysing integrated sustainable responses to end AIDS, TB and malaria."

More than 3000 delegates from 85 countries are attending Africa's biggest conference on AIDS and STIs, which Ghana is hosting for the first time and organised by Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA).

Present at the opening were the first ladies of Gambia and Sierra Leone, a former Director of USAID, Peter Piot; Executive Director of USAIDS, African Union Special envoy for the African Medicines Agency, Dr Michel Sidibe, and the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said across the world, there had been remarkable progress in reducing new HIV infections and AIDS deaths with antiretroviral therapy saving millions of lives.

The Vice-President said innovations such as HIV self-testing and long acting injectable were driving prevention yet, the pandemic persisted and progress was uneven and Africa, home to over two-thirds of the global HIV burden continued to face profound disparities in access and outcome.

She pointed out that while the 95-95-95 targets were within reach for many nations, others remained far behind, adding that in Ghana, around 65 per cent of people living with HIV knew their status and many were receiving lifesaving treatments.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said new infections had steadily declined and community led organisations remained backbone of their response.

However, she said the gains were fragile, adding that young people, especially adolescent girls and young women, accounted for a disproportionate share of new infections while stigma and discrimination remained barriers to testing, disclosure and adherence.

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who, among others, spoke about the HIV situation in Ghana and interventions  government had introduced , said the most urgent gap was treatment enrolment,  and that closing that gap was critical.

He said the goal of Ghana was to achieve the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat

Touching on the theme of the conference, he said integration required enhanced HIV prevention, testing and treatment, new primary healthcare, reproductive health and universal health appropriate  assistance,

He said innovation demanded Africa-led solutions, digital transformation and differentiated services and technology.

The President, SAA, Dr David Pagwesese Parirenyatwa, called on people living with HIV to take their drugs.

Other speakers included Priscilla Armah Addo, who spoke on behalf of the communities, the WHO Regional Director for Africa and the USAID.