Health authorities in Ghana’s Upper East Region are grappling with a worrying rise in maternal deaths, as new data reveals setbacks in efforts to meet global health targets.
Figures released by the Ghana Health Service show that maternal mortality increased significantly from 40 deaths in 2024 to 60 in 2025, pushing the region’s mortality ratio to 132 per 100,000 live births—well above the Universal Health Coverage benchmark.
At the region’s annual performance review, Regional Health Director Dr Braimah Baba Abubakari described the trend as a major concern, noting that it places the region off track in achieving the global target of reducing maternal deaths to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Beyond maternal deaths, other indicators point to mixed progress. While antenatal care coverage improved, early pregnancy reporting has stagnated, and cases of anaemia among pregnant women continue to rise. Neonatal mortality also recorded an increase, while stillbirth rates showed no improvement.
Health officials say these trends highlight persistent gaps in maternal and child healthcare delivery, despite ongoing interventions.
In response, the Service is intensifying capacity-building efforts for midwives and community health nurses, alongside expanding training in newborn resuscitation. A regional maternal mortality taskforce is also working with health facilities to review cases and implement corrective measures.
Authorities further plan to scale up community education campaigns to encourage early antenatal visits and improve health-seeking behaviour.
Despite the challenges, health officials commended frontline workers for maintaining services under difficult conditions, stressing that renewed focus and sustained investment would be critical to reversing the trend.
