Government launches initiative to reduce maternal deaths by 20% annually

The government has launched a five-year initiative aimed at reducing maternal deaths in Ghana by 20% annually over the next three years.

The Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER) seeks to ensure that women receive timely and quality care before, during and after childbirth.

The initiative was launched by Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, September 14, under the theme, “No Woman Should Die While Giving Life.”

The initiative brings together ministries, public institutions, local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities to address barriers to maternal survival.

Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, said Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio currently stands at about 234 deaths per 100,000 live births.

She disclosed that institutional maternal deaths reached 965 in 2025, with a significant proportion involving referrals from lower-level health facilities.

According to her, the challenges contributing to maternal deaths include the late identification of high-risk pregnancies, delays in emergency referrals, inadequate critical-care equipment and limited access to blood and other essential resources.

She said the Ministry of Health had integrated its Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (MMARP) into PRIMER as its fifth pillar.

Prof. Ayensu-Danquah explained that the integration would give PRIMER a dedicated clinical and operational component focused on strengthening primary-level care, referral systems and emergency response.

The Vice President, meanwhile, noted that Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio remains above the Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

She said this requires greater attention to the quality of care, emergency preparedness, transportation, communication and coordination among health facilities.

The Vice President also stressed the need for a multisectoral approach to tackling maternal deaths, noting that factors such as transport, roads, water and energy also affect maternal health outcomes.

She therefore charged health professionals, communities, traditional and religious leaders, development partners and relevant government institutions to play their respective roles in ensuring that women seek care early and receive timely interventions.