For President Mahama, Every Mother Must Live. What About You? – Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Deputy Minister of Health

For most families, childbirth is a moment of hope, joy, and new beginnings. That is exactly how God intended it to be.

Yet for too many women in our dear country, pregnancy and childbirth remain dangerous journeys. Preventable complications continue to claim lives, despite significant improvements in access to healthcare and antenatal services.

Ghana has made important progress. According to the latest estimates from the World Health Organization and partner agencies, our maternal mortality ratio dropped from 943 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 234 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023.

But this is still far above the Sustainable Development Goal and WHO benchmark of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
These are not just statistics. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, and futures forever changed.

President Mahama’s Charge
This sad reality is driving a renewed national effort led by President John Dramani Mahama and the Ministry of Health to save the lives of mothers.

As a father and leader, President Mahama has been unequivocal: no woman should lose her life while giving life.

That conviction is making the reduction of maternal mortality a national priority. For us at the Ministry of Health, it is a moral imperative and a shared national responsibility.

As a medical doctor, a woman, a mother, and Deputy Minister for Health, I share that commitment. Together with my Minister, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, we are working with healthcare professionals, traditional leaders, development partners, and communities to ensure every pregnant woman has access to timely, quality, and life-saving care.

The Maternal Mortality Action and Response Plan (MMARP) is our initiative to accelerate the reduction of maternal deaths and ensure that every woman survives pregnancy and childbirth.

The Troubling Question
As part of MMARP, I recently toured the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions, engaging health professionals, traditional leaders, and volunteers.

One question kept coming up: Why are women still dying during childbirth after attending more than eight antenatal care visits?

The answer is clear: access alone is not enough. A woman may attend every clinic, yet still face fatal complications if emergency care is delayed, referral systems fail, or critical services are unavailable when she needs them most.

That is why, as a government, we are focusing not just on access, but on the quality, timeliness, and effectiveness of care.

At the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regional Health Directorates, we reviewed maternal mortality trends and identified gaps. We discussed practical solutions to strengthen emergency obstetric care, improve referrals, and deepen accountability in our facilities.

I also paid courtesy calls on King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse, and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, to seek their support.
Maternal health is not just the work of doctors and nurses. Chiefs, queen mothers, religious leaders, and families all have a role.
I was encouraged by their pledge to champion maternal health awareness and encourage women to seek care early and consistently.

The Commitment of Our Health Workers
My visits to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital showed me the dedication of our doctors, nurses, and midwives. They work tirelessly, often under immense pressure, to save lives.

They also identified challenges we must address. Government remains committed to working with them to strengthen services, improve emergency response, and close critical gaps in care.

The Charge to All Ghanaians
Maternal mortality is a challenge facing our republic, and we must all rise to address it. President Mahama has given his commitment, and the Ministry is ready to roll out measures to tackle it.

That is why I am appealing to you, every Ghanaian: join this effort.

Support pregnant women in your family and community. Encourage antenatal attendance, facility deliveries, and immediate care when complications arise.
Men must become active partners. Community leaders must promote healthy behaviors. Employers, faith-based organizations, and civil society must lend their voices.

The truth is, most maternal deaths are preventable. With timely care, strong health systems, and community support, more mothers can survive and thrive.

As a government, our vision is clear: Every pregnancy safe. Every delivery protected. Every mother returns home with her newborn.

Together, let us make maternal mortality a challenge of the past and build a Ghana where *no woman dies while giving life.