Ghana targets 20% annual reduction in maternal deaths – Akandoh

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced that Ghana is targeting a 20 per cent annual reduction in maternal deaths as part of efforts to improve maternal healthcare and prevent avoidable deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.

He said the target reflects the government’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare for pregnant women and mothers before, during, and after delivery.

Akandoh disclosed this while addressing global health leaders at the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany, where he outlined Ghana’s interventions to improve maternal health outcomes.

Ghana seeks to slash maternal death by 20% by end of 2026 - Health Ministry

According to him, the government’s commitment to reducing maternal mortality led to the introduction of the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER), which seeks to strengthen the country’s response to maternal health emergencies.

He stressed that achieving the target would require strong political leadership, effective healthcare systems and accountability, rather than relying on funding alone.

“We recognise that financing alone will not save mothers. It takes political leadership, it takes functioning health systems, and it takes accountability for results. That is why under President John Dramani, we have launched the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response. Our ambition is clear: to reduce maternal deaths by 20 per cent annually,” he said.

The initiative is expected to strengthen emergency responses and improve the delivery of maternal healthcare services across the country.

It was officially launched on September 16, 2026, by Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as part of efforts to address maternal health challenges and protect the lives of pregnant women and mothers.

NA/