The maternity unit has expanded its capacity to manage all neonatal cases without referrals
The Ghanaian Women's Association of Georgia (GWAG) has successfully completed a pilot sustainability and enhancement project at the Elmina Government Hospital’s maternity ward, reaffirming its long-term commitment to improving maternal healthcare and establishing a model for future ward adoption initiatives across Ghana.
The Elmina Government Hospital serves maternity patients across the Komenda-EdinaEguafo-Abirem (KEEA) district, recording approximately 400 antenatal visits per month and 1,420 deliveries annually.
Since GWAG’s intervention in 2016, the maternity unit has expanded its capacity to manage all neonatal cases without referrals.
The facility now also receives referrals from health centres within the KEEA district, as well as from Ankaful Hospital and Metro Hospital in Cape Coast, while extending services to neighbouring communities in the Western Region.
The project, which culminates in a commissioning and stakeholder engagement
ceremony on Monday, June 15, 2026, builds upon GWAG's landmark intervention in 2016, when the organisation adopted and furnished a newly renovated but unfurnished maternity ward with more than $250,000 worth of medical equipment, beds, incubators, wheelchairs, and essential healthcare supplies.
At the time of GWAG's original ward adoption, the facility faced severe resource
constraints, with only two delivery beds and four ageing postnatal beds available to serve expectant mothers.
The intervention significantly expanded the hospital's capacity to
provide safe maternal and newborn care and has contributed to the care of an
estimated 57,881 mothers and newborns over the past decade.
Nearly ten years later, GWAG returned to assess the evolving needs of the facility and strengthen its original investment through a comprehensive initiative focused on patient dignity, comfort, safety and quality of care.
The recently completed project represents an additional investment of approximately $10,000 and focused on improving both patient experience and the working environment for healthcare professionals.
Enhancements included the installation of privacy screens throughout the maternity ward, new curtains, replacement of damaged louvre blades, installation of mosquito netting on windows, reupholstering of patient waiting area benches, painting, provision of new bed linens, and the supply of additional medical equipment and essential items.
A key component of the project was the generous support of Ghana Textile Printing Co., (GTP), which donated fabric for the production of bed linens, curtains, and privacy screens throughout the ward. The contribution helped create a more welcoming, dignified, and patient-centred environment for mothers and their families.
Speaking ahead of the commissioning ceremony, GWAG President-Elect, Mrs. Sally
Amon-Kotey, said the project reflects the association's belief that meaningful healthcare partnerships require long-term commitment and accountability.
"Many organisations undertake one-time projects and move on. At GWAG, we believe
true impact is measured by sustained engagement and the willingness to return,
evaluate and respond to changing needs.
Our partnership with Elmina demonstrates that ward adoption is not simply about donating equipment; it is about building lasting relationships that improve healthcare outcomes for mothers and babies over time."
Mrs. Amon-Kotey noted that the Elmina initiative aligns with GWAG's broader mission of supporting maternal and child health while mobilising the expertise, resources, and goodwill of Ghanaian women in the diaspora.
"The success of this project demonstrates the powerful role that diaspora communities can play in supporting national development. We are proud of what has been achieved in Elmina and excited about the opportunity to expand this model to other district hospitals across Ghana."
Ward Adoption Project Lead, Agnes Aacht Hayfron-Benjamin, described the project as an important milestone in GWAG's effort to develop a sustainable and replicable framework for healthcare partnerships.
"When we first adopted this ward in 2016, the immediate priority was capacity; ensuring that mothers and babies had access to the beds, equipment, and essential resources needed for their care.
This next phase focused on the patient experience and working environment for healthcare professionals.
We examined every patient touchpoint, from antenatal care through delivery and recovery, and identified practical improvements that would enhance dignity, privacy, comfort, and overall quality of care."
Ms. Hayfron-Benjamin said the project was intentionally designed as a pilot to guide future GWAG healthcare initiatives.
"This pilot project allowed us to evaluate the condition of a maternity ward and identify practical interventions that can be implemented sustainably and cost-effectively.
The lessons learned in Elmina will help create a structured framework for future ward adoption projects and ensure that investments remain impactful long after the initial handover."
As part of its long-term vision, GWAG is developing partnerships with maternity-focused medical mission groups to provide specialised training, Rotary Clubs to support monitoring and evaluation, and corporate partners to strengthen maternal healthcare services and promote continuous quality improvement at adopted facilities.
The commissioning ceremony will bring together hospital leadership, officials from the Ghana Health Service, traditional authorities, Rotary partners, local government representatives, community stakeholders, members of the media, and GWAG representatives in Ghana to celebrate the project's completion and discuss opportunities for future collaboration.
With the completion of the sustainability and enhancement project, mothers, newborns, healthcare workers, and families will benefit from an improved environment designed to support safe, dignified, and quality maternal healthcare services for years to come.
About Ghanaian Women’s Association of Georgia:
Founded in Georgia, USA, the Ghanaian Women's Association of Georgia (GWAG) is a
501 (c)(3) nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering women, supporting
education, promoting entrepreneurship, and improving maternal and child healthcare outcomes in Ghana and within Ghanaian communities abroad.
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