Ashanti, Greater Accra, Northern regions lead in maternal death toll

Ghana continues to grapple with an alarming rate of maternal mortality, with at least 2,529 women aged between 12 and 54 reportedly losing their lives due to pregnancy-related complications over the past three years.

The Ashanti, Greater Accra, Northern, and Eastern Regions have emerged as the hardest hit, with a significant number of maternal deaths recorded between 2021 and 2023. Women aged 30 to 34 are said to be the most vulnerable age group, with conditions such as excessive bleeding, pregnancy-related hypertension, and infections topping the list of causes.

Speaking in an interview on July 31, Deputy Director of Reproductive and Child Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Chris Opoku Cofie, revealed that 819 maternal deaths were recorded in 2024 alone — a figure that reflects the persistent nature of the crisis.

He pointed to delays in accessing healthcare facilities and slow response times within hospitals as contributing factors. “When women are referred from distant communities, the journey itself becomes a risk. Even upon arrival, delays in care delivery worsen their condition,” Dr. Cofie noted.

Meanwhile, a Biostatistics expert from the University of Ghana, Prof. Duah Dwomoh, raised fresh concerns over the increasing rate of family planning discontinuation, especially among urban dwellers. He said recent data shows a spike in women abandoning modern contraceptive methods, despite age, income, or location. “Urban areas surprisingly show higher discontinuity. This is a signal that targeted campaigns on family planning must be intensified in city settings,” he advised.

At a recent Countdown to 2030 National Dissemination Forum, Regional Health Director Dr. Samuel K. Boakye stressed the importance of data-driven policies aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. “Though we’ve made strides in immunization, we must address the gaps leading to maternal mortality,” he stated.

Also speaking at the forum, Prof. Kristine Wilsen of the University of Southampton praised Ghana’s efforts to close equity gaps in healthcare, noting that despite long-standing disparities, recent trends point to improving access for vulnerable populations.