Maternal Deaths Are Heartbreaking – Otumfuo
The Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has described the death of women during childbirth as deeply heartbreaking.
His Majesty stressed that maternal mortality extends far beyond women.
“This does not concern only women; it affects us all. When a woman is in labour, her husband remains restless until she delivers safely. The most heartbreaking experience is to lose a wife during childbirth,” the Asantehene stated.
Otumfuo identified several contributing factors to maternal deaths, highlighting both institutional negligence and delays in seeking medical care.
“Some expectant mothers fail to attend antenatal care clinics, choosing instead to rely solely on previous birthing experiences. This often leads to undetected complications during labour,” His Majesty observed.
To address this, the Asantehene called for intensified public education to build trust and encourage pregnant women to utilise professional antenatal services regularly.
His Majesty further demanded a comprehensive progress update on regional maternal mortality figures within three months.
Otumfuo’s charge came in response to a report indicating that the Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of maternal deaths in Ghana in 2025.
The Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, explained that the high mortality figures in the region were largely driven by critical emergency referrals sent to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) from neighbouring regions, including the Western and Northern belts.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah disclosed that the government had charged her with rolling out a nationwide Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (MMARP) to curb the crisis.
She noted, however, that proactive measures recently instituted in the Ashanti Region have yielded promising results over the past quarter.
“Out of the five regions we have visited so far, the Ashanti Region is the only one that has successfully implemented emergency measures to drastically reduce maternal mortality rates within three months,” Dr Ayensu-Danquah highlighted.
As part of her visit, the Deputy Minister presented a financial donation to support the social initiatives of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation (OTOTIIF).
The Deputy Minister’s delegation to Manhyia Palace included the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene; UNFPA Country Representative, Dr David Wilfred Ochan; and the Ashanti Regional Health Director, Dr Fred Adomako-Boateng.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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