Ashanti Region Records 25% Decline in Maternal Mortality Amid National Multisectoral Health Drive

The Ashanti Region has achieved a significant milestone in maternal healthcare, recording a 25% decline in maternal mortality during the first half of 2025. According to data from the Ghana Health Service, maternal deaths in the region dropped from 199.5 to 148.7 per 100,000 live births compared to the same period in the previous year. This progress serves as a critical indicator for the national agenda to curb preventable deaths, aligning with the objectives of the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER), a comprehensive five-year program designed to revitalize emergency care and resource access across the country.

Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, revealed that the total number of maternal deaths fell from 128 to 98, effectively sparing dozens of families from tragedy. While the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) remains a focal point for many of these cases due to its status as a referral hub, the regional health directorate is shifting its strategy toward building medical capacity in peripheral facilities. This decentralization effort is complemented by the implementation of free primary health care in eight specific districts, aimed at removing financial barriers and ensuring early intervention for expectant mothers.

These regional successes reflect a broader shift toward the multisectoral approach advocated by international partners like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Dr. Sennen Hounton, UNFPA Regional Director for West and Central Africa, has emphasized that health outcomes are inextricably linked to non-medical factors such as energy reliability, transport infrastructure, and innovative financing. By integrating these sectors, Ghana aims to address the underlying systemic issues that contribute to Sub-Saharan Africa’s high share of global maternal mortality, which historically accounts for approximately 70% of such deaths.

As Ghana continues its push toward the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, the collaboration between the government, Ghana Health Service, and international stakeholders remains vital. The focus on PRIMER’s emergency response enhancements and the scaling of local successes in regions like Ashanti will be the cornerstone of future health policy. Sustaining this downward trend will require consistent investment in reproductive health services and a continued commitment to strengthening the healthcare value chain from rural clinics to major teaching hospitals.