The Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Grace Ayensu Dankwah, has called for urgent and coordinated action to reduce maternal deaths in Ghana, as the country recorded 986 maternal deaths in 2024.
She said maternal mortality was a key measure of the strength and responsiveness of Ghana’s health system and urged stakeholders to work together to develop a practical roadmap to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal deaths.
Dr Ayensu Dankwah made the call during a two-day official visit to the Ashanti Region under Phase Three of the Regional Ecosystem Assessment Visits of the Ministry of Health’s Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (MMARP).
The programme is being implemented to identify gaps in maternal healthcare delivery, referral systems, emergency obstetric care, community-level barriers and stakeholder commitments as the Ministry develops a National Roadmap for Reducing Maternal Mortality in Ghana.
According to the Deputy Minister, Ghana recorded a maternal mortality ratio of 235 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, with maternal mortality remaining high in 11 regions.
She said the Ashanti Region currently records the highest number of maternal deaths, making it a priority area for the assessment.
“Maternal mortality is a reflection of the robustness of our health system,” Dr Ayensu Dankwah said, emphasising the need for stakeholders to develop a clear and coordinated response.
During her visit, she engaged the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Fred Adomako Boateng, members of the Senior Management Committee, district directors of health services, medical directors, medical superintendents and staff of the Regional Health Directorate.
She also paid a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, who highlighted the significant referral burden carried by the region from adjoining regions and districts.
He said many complicated cases were referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, placing considerable pressure on the major referral centre.
Dr Amoakohene called for the establishment and upgrading of sub-regional health facilities to improve access to emergency obstetric care and reduce the burden on Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
He further disclosed that 73 health facilities were expected to be constructed across the region as part of efforts by local government authorities to expand access to healthcare.
The Regional Minister also called for intensified training of traditional birth attendants to strengthen community-level efforts to prevent maternal deaths.
At the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, Dr Ayensu Dankwah engaged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, religious and traditional leaders, health facility representatives, the Christian Health Association of Ghana, private health facilities and other stakeholders.
The engagement focused on identifying local barriers to maternal healthcare and strengthening collective commitments to reducing preventable maternal deaths.
The findings from the Ashanti Region assessment are expected to feed into the development of a practical national roadmap aimed at accelerating the reduction of maternal mortality across Ghana.
