Health Ministry Steps Up Action to Tackle Maternal Deaths in Ashanti Region
The Deputy Minister for Health, Hon. Dr Grace Ayensu Dankwah, has called for urgent, coordinated action to reduce maternal deaths in Ghana, describing maternal mortality as a key reflection of the strength and responsiveness of the country’s health system.
She made the call when she commenced a two-day official visit to the Ashanti Region under Phase Three of the Regional Ecosystem Assessment Visits of the Maternal Mortality Action and Response Program (MMARP).
The assessment, undertaken by the Ministry of Health to develop a National Roadmap for Reducing Maternal Mortality in Ghana, aims to identify gaps in maternal health service delivery, referral pathways, emergency obstetric care readiness, community-level barriers, and stakeholder commitments.
At the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, the Deputy Minister engaged the 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 Directorate.
Dr Ayensu Dankwah disclosed that 986 women died from maternal causes in Ghana in 2024, with the country recording a maternal mortality ratio of 235 deaths per 100,000 live births.
She noted that maternal mortality remained high in 11 regions, with the Ashanti Region currently recording the highest number of maternal deaths.
“Maternal mortality is a reflection of the robustness of our health system,” she said, stressing the need for stakeholders to work together to develop a clear roadmap to guide action.
The Deputy Minister also paid a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, who noted that the region carries a significant referral burden from adjoining regions and districts, with many complicated cases referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
He called for the establishment and upgrading of sub-regional health facilities to improve access to emergency obstetric care and reduce pressure on the major referral centre.
Dr Amoakohene further disclosed that 73 health facilities are expected to be constructed across the region as part of local government efforts to expand healthcare access.
He also called for intensified training of traditional birth attendants to enable them to support efforts to prevent maternal deaths at the community level.
The findings from the Ashanti assessment are expected to contribute to the development of a practical national roadmap for accelerating the reduction of maternal mortality in Ghana.
At the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC), the Deputy Minister engaged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), religious and traditional leaders, representatives of health facilities, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), private health facilities and other key stakeholders.
The engagement provided a platform for stakeholders to identify local barriers and strengthen collective commitments towards reducing preventable maternal deaths.
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