Ashanti Records Ghana’s Highest Maternal Mortality Rate: What the Numbers Really Mean

KUMASI, Ghana — The Ashanti Region has recorded Ghana’s highest maternal mortality ratio, renewing concerns about the country’s ability to prevent avoidable deaths among women during pregnancy and childbirth.

Data from the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate shows that the region’s maternal mortality ratio increased marginally from 195.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024 to 196.7 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2025.

Ashanti also accounted for approximately 24.6% of maternal deaths recorded across Ghana in 2025, making it the highest regional contributor.

But health authorities say the figures require careful interpretation.

The region is one of Ghana’s major referral centres, meaning hospitals in Ashanti receive critically ill pregnant women referred from other parts of the country. That referral burden can significantly influence the number of maternal deaths recorded within the region.

The Numbers Behind the Concern

The increase from 195.6 to 196.7 deaths per 100,000 live births represents a relatively small year-on-year rise, but health officials remain concerned because maternal mortality remains far above the level Ghana needs to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target.

Deputy Minister of Health Dr Grace Ayensu Danquah said Ghana's national maternal mortality figure currently stands at about 235 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The SDG target is 70 deaths per 100,000 live births, meaning Ghana still has a significant gap to close before 2030.

The Deputy Minister described the situation as a major concern and stressed the limited time remaining for Ghana to make substantial progress.

Why Ashanti's Figure Is So High

One of the most important factors is Ashanti's role within Ghana's healthcare referral system.

Major hospitals in the region receive complicated cases from other regions, including women whose conditions may already have become critical before they arrive.

This means the number of maternal deaths recorded in Ashanti does not necessarily represent deaths caused exclusively by the quality of care at facilities in the region.

Health authorities have specifically cautioned against interpreting the region's position at the top of the table in that way.

The referral situation nevertheless places significant pressure on specialist hospitals and the health workers responsible for managing complicated pregnancies and emergency deliveries.

What Causes Maternal Deaths?

Maternal deaths can result from several medical complications, particularly when pregnant women do not receive timely and appropriate emergency care.

A statement presented in Parliament previously identified hypertensive complications, gestational diabetes and postpartum haemorrhage among major contributors to maternal deaths in Ghana.

Postpartum haemorrhage is particularly dangerous because severe bleeding after childbirth can become fatal very quickly if appropriate treatment is not available.

The parliamentary discussion also highlighted the importance of identifying high-risk pregnancies early and ensuring that women can access appropriate care before complications become life-threatening.

What Is Being Done?

Health authorities say interventions are being developed to reduce preventable maternal deaths in Ashanti and other regions.

These include strengthening referral systems, clinical mentorship and specialist support.

Officials have also discussed improving the identification of high-risk women within communities so that complications can be detected and managed earlier.

The broader strategy includes strengthening primary healthcare so that conditions such as hypertension can be detected and managed before they develop into serious complications during pregnancy.

Why Early Detection Matters

Many pregnancy-related complications can become considerably more difficult to manage when treatment begins only after the condition has become severe.

Early antenatal care can help health professionals identify women who may require closer monitoring because of hypertension, diabetes or other risk factors.

For women who develop complications during labour or after delivery, the availability of emergency obstetric services can also make the difference between survival and death.

This is why reducing maternal mortality requires more than focusing on teaching hospitals alone.

It requires an effective chain of care extending from communities and primary healthcare facilities to regional and specialist referral centres.

The Bigger Ghanaian Picture

The Ashanti figures are part of a wider national maternal-health challenge.

With Ghana's reported national maternal mortality figure still significantly above the SDG target of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births, health authorities have only a few years to make substantial progress.

The challenge involves improving access to antenatal services, strengthening emergency obstetric care, ensuring adequate specialist staffing and making referrals faster and more effective.

It also requires better support for women in communities where distance, transport and financial barriers can delay access to healthcare.

What the Ashanti Figures Really Tell Us

The latest figures should therefore be understood in two ways.

First, Ashanti's maternal mortality burden is genuinely serious and requires urgent intervention.

Second, the region's position as a major referral destination means the figures should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that Ashanti's hospitals alone are responsible for the deaths.

Both issues can be true at the same time: Ashanti can face a serious maternal mortality challenge while also carrying an unusually heavy referral burden from other parts of Ghana.

The priority now is to identify where preventable deaths are occurring, strengthen the referral chain and ensure women with complications receive timely specialist care.

For Ghana, the ultimate measure of progress will not simply be whether one region moves down a ranking.

It will be whether fewer women die while giving birth across the entire country.

Global Pulse GH will continue to follow developments in Ghana's maternal-health system and efforts to reduce preventable maternal deaths.

This article uses maternal mortality data reported by the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate and statements from health authorities. Maternal mortality ratios and the number of maternal deaths are different measures and should not be used interchangeably.