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Maternal mortality crisis in Ghana

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2026-08-28 20:31 UTC → 2026-09-02 17:15 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Ghana continues to face a maternal mortality crisis, with the national ratio standing at 235 deaths per 100,000 live births. While this reflects progress from 943 deaths in 2000, it remains significantly above the Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births. Recent data reveals stark regional disparities. The Ashanti Region recorded the highest mortality ratio, rising from 195.6 in 2024 to 196.7 in 2025, accounting for 24.6 per cent of all national maternal deaths. Conversely, the Upper West Region saw a 45 per cent reduction, dropping to 48.5 deaths per 100,000 live births, supported by the rollout of a Free Primary Healthcare policy. To combat these rates, the government is intensifying the Maternal Mortality Action and Response Plan (MMARP). In ~~August 2026, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, called for urgent, pragmatic measures~~ response to ~~reduce maternal deaths, describing~~ high mortality rates, the ~~loss~~ Ministry of ~~women during childbirth as “unacceptable~~ Health has launched an assessment under MMARP to create a National Roadmap by identifying gaps in service delivery and referral pathways. Deputy Minister for Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, noted that the ~~21st century.”~~ Ashanti Region records the highest number of maternal deaths, facing a significant referral burden that necessitates upgrading sub-regional facilities. In the Ashanti Region, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) reported its first decline in maternal deaths in ten years, with institutional deaths dropping from 78 at mid-year 2025 to 55 in 2026. CEO Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo attributed this to a dedicated maternal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staffed by specialists. KATH also completed an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Centre, becoming the first public-sector institution in Ghana to offer specialized fertility services. However, calls for systemic reform persist. Akosua Manu, an adviser on Gender and Social Protection, has urged Parliament to declare maternal mortality a national emergency and launch a bipartisan inquiry. Following the death of Theresa Boakye in July, Manu emphasized the need for an honest assessment of emergency obstetric care, blood availability, and referral systems, stressing that investigations must lead to “practical measures and accountability.”

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