The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called for urgent and pragmatic measures to address maternal mortality in Ghana, describing the death of women during childbirth as unacceptable in modern times.
Otumfuo made the call when the Deputy Minister for Health, Hon. Dr. Grace Ayensu‑Danquah, paid a courtesy visit to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on the second day of her official tour of the Ashanti Region.
Commending the Deputy Minister’s efforts under the Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (M‑MARP), the Asantehene expressed optimism about the collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to tackle the persistent challenge of maternal deaths.
He stressed that it was unacceptable for women to enter health facilities to deliver and fail to return home alive, urging health professionals—particularly doctors and frontline workers—to demonstrate commitment and professionalism in preventing avoidable maternal deaths. He cautioned against negligence and emphasized the need for strict adherence to standards of care.
Otumfuo also encouraged pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics regularly and follow medical advice, noting that timely access to skilled care could help identify and address complications before they become life‑threatening.
He further urged the Deputy Minister to pursue the M‑MARP initiative with urgency, describing it as a vital intervention that must be effectively implemented in the interest of the Ghanaian people.
Dr. Ayensu‑Danquah is in the Ashanti Region as part of a tour aimed at engaging key stakeholders and health facilities on strategies to strengthen maternal healthcare services and accelerate efforts to reduce preventable maternal deaths.
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