Government Launches Presidential Initiative To Cut Maternal Deaths

The Ghana of Ghana has launched a five-year initiative aimed at reducing maternal deaths by 20% annually.

The Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER) is intended to improve the quality and speed of care women receive before, during, and after childbirth.

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

Speaking at the launch, the Vice President said Ghana’s maternal mortality rate remained above the Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

She said reducing maternal deaths would require more than improving medical services, with attention also needed for emergency preparedness, transportation, roads, communication and coordination between health facilities.

PRIMER will bring together government ministries, public institutions, local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities.

The Deputy Minister for Health, Prof Grace Ayensu-Danquah, said Ghana’s current maternal mortality ratio was about 234 deaths per 100,000 live births.

She said 965 institutional maternal deaths were recorded in 2025.

According to Prof Ayensu-Danquah, a significant number of the deaths involved women who had been referred from lower-level health facilities.

She identified delays in recognising high-risk pregnancies, delays in emergency referrals, inadequate critical-care equipment and limited access to blood and other essential resources as some of the challenges contributing to maternal deaths.

The Ministry of Health has incorporated its Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (MMARP) into PRIMER as its fifth pillar.

The programme will focus on improving primary-level care, referral systems and emergency response.

The government says the initiative will also address non-medical factors that can affect access to emergency maternal care, including transport, roads, water and energy.

The Vice President called on health workers, communities, traditional and religious leaders, development partners and government institutions to help women seek care early and ensure they receive timely treatment.

Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio remains a major public health concern, with the country’s current figure significantly higher than the SDG target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

The government says PRIMER is intended to strengthen coordination across sectors and reduce avoidable deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.