Ghana has launched the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER), a five‑year multisectoral programme aimed at reducing maternal deaths by 20 percent annually and ensuring women receive timely, quality care before, during and after childbirth.
The initiative, unveiled by Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku‑Agyemang on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, is being implemented under the theme “No Woman Should Die While Giving Life.”
Speaking at the launch, the Vice President noted that Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio remains above the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. She emphasized the need for greater attention to emergency readiness, transportation, communication and coordination among health facilities.
PRIMER will bring together ministries, public institutions, local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, the private sector and communities to address barriers to maternal survival, including transport, roads, water and energy.
Deputy Minister for Health, Hon. Prof. Grace Ayensu‑Danquah, disclosed that the Ministry has integrated its Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (MMARP) into PRIMER as its fifth pillar, providing a dedicated clinical and operational component. She revealed that Ghana’s current maternal mortality ratio stands at about 234 deaths per 100,000 live births, with institutional maternal deaths reaching 965 in 2025.
Prof. Ayensu‑Danquah explained that many deaths involved referrals from lower‑level facilities, citing delays in emergency referrals, inadequate critical‑care equipment, and gaps in access to blood and other essential resources. MMARP, she said, will focus on strengthening primary‑level care, referral systems and emergency response, with the goal of cutting maternal deaths by 20 percent annually over the next three years.
The Vice President charged health professionals, communities, traditional and religious leaders, development partners and government institutions to play their part in ensuring that women seek care early and receive timely interventions.
PRIMER is expected to serve as a cornerstone in Ghana’s drive to meet global maternal health targets and safeguard the lives of mothers nationwide.
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