The Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, Hon. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has expressed deep concern about the alarming rate of maternal mortality in Ghana, describing it as a pressing national health crisis.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Hon. Ayensu-Danquah revealed that Ghana’s current maternal mortality rate stands at 310 deaths per 100,000 live births, far above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended standard of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births. She noted that recent half-year reports paint an even more troubling picture.
According to her, in the first half of 2023, Ghana recorded 430 maternal deaths, meaning 430 pregnant women entered hospitals and clinics but did not leave alive. In 2024, the half-year figure rose to 437, with a total of 819 maternal deaths recorded for the entire year. The situation has further deteriorated in 2025, with 504 maternal deaths recorded between January and June alone.
She explained that the leading causes of these deaths include hypertensive complications, gestational diabetes, and most critically, postpartum hemorrhage. She noted that in many cases, after delivery, “the uterus fails to contract, causing excessive bleeding,” which often leads to death within the operating or early postpartum period. She also highlighted that the Ashanti Region currently has the highest number of maternal mortality cases in the country.
Hon. Ayensu-Danquah further explained that many of these complications stem from hypertensive conditions such as preeclampsia, post-eclampsia, and general pregnancy-induced hypertension.
She commended government interventions such as the Mahama Cares initiative and the Free Primary Healthcare policy, stating that these are designed to identify high-risk pregnant women at the community level before they present at CHPS compounds for delivery. With better community screening, high-risk cases can be referred early to district hospitals rather than delivering in lower-level facilities unequipped for complications.
She emphasized that Ghana is currently transitioning nursing education from diploma to degree programs, a move that is expected to produce highly skilled and specialized nurses capable of managing maternal health more effectively at the community level.
On hypertension, she stressed that with the Free Primary Healthcare program, communities will be better equipped to identify hypertensive patients early. Since hypertension medications are affordable, treating these conditions at CHPS compounds and health centres will prevent future pregnancy complications and reduce the number of women who lose their lives during childbirth.
Hon. Ayensu-Danquah concluded by urging all stakeholders to prioritize maternal health, strengthen early detection systems, and ensure that no woman dies while giving life.
