Ghana Gender Minister meets midwives to address maternal mortality

Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, met with the Greater Accra Chapter of the National Association of Registered Midwives-Ghana to discuss strategies for reducing preventable maternal deaths.

During the meeting, Association Chairperson Rosetta N. Boakye presented a policy position paper titled ‘Ending Preventable Maternal Deaths in Ghana: A Policy Position on Accelerating Ghana’s Progress Towards SDG 3.1’. The document identifies critical gaps in the healthcare system, including the quality of care, staffing levels, professional capacity, referral systems, and access to timely interventions for obstetric complications.

The Association warned that while Ghana has made progress in reducing maternal mortality, the current pace is insufficient to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

Dr. Lartey emphasized the necessity of institutional collaboration, particularly between the health and social protection sectors. She highlighted the importance of supporting vulnerable pregnant and lactating mothers through existing initiatives like the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme to ensure they can access and maintain essential healthcare.