Dr. Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, Acting Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), recently led a delegation on an official visit to the Permanent Secretariat of the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA). Accompanying him were key figures from GAC, including Mr. Isaiah Kwao, Director of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation; Mr. Siddique Abdul Moomen, Director of Finance and Administration; Mr. John Eliasu Mahama, Acting Director of Public Policy; and Josephine Oppong-Adusah, Executive Assistant.

Hon. Dr. David Pagwesese Parirenyatwa, President of SAA/ICASA 2025, extended a warm welcome to Dr. Akanbong on behalf of the SAA Executive Board and staff. In his speech, Dr. Parirenyatwa congratulated Dr. Akanbong on his appointment, acknowledging the weight of the responsibilities he now bears. He highlighted the challenges faced by the African health sector, particularly due to funding cuts and shifts in foreign aid policies, such as those introduced by the Trump administration. Dr. Parirenyatwa underscored the critical need to ensure the success of ICASA 2025, which is set to take place in Accra, Ghana. He expressed confidence that Dr. Akanbong’s leadership would contribute meaningfully to the success of both the conference and the broader efforts to address AIDS in Africa.

In his remarks, Dr. Akanbong expressed sincere gratitude for the warm reception and recognized the monumental effort that secured Ghana’s bid to host ICASA 2025. He acknowledged the extensive work ahead but expressed optimism about the potential for fruitful collaboration between the Ghana AIDS Commission and the Society for AIDS in Africa. He emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and partnership to achieve shared goals.

Mr. Luc Armand Bodea, ICASA Director, reiterated his excitement about collaborating with the Ghana AIDS Commission and the Government of Ghana to establish a seamless partnership for ICASA 2025. He highlighted the significance of ensuring effective coordination with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service, to ensure the smooth execution of the conference. Mr. Bodea then provided a detailed presentation on the SAA and ICASA, outlining the marketing strategy for ICASA 2025 and key conference dates.

The meeting concluded with productive discussions and the establishment of clear timelines for actionable outcomes. Both Dr. Akanbong and Mr. Bodea emphasized that Ghana, under the leadership of President H.E. John Dramani Mahama, is ready to welcome the global community to Accra for ICASA 2025, scheduled for December 3–8, 2025.