Health Ministry Advances Plan to Cut Maternal Deaths

The Ministry of Health has held the second meeting of its 25-member Technical Working Group for the National Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (MMARP), as Ghana steps up efforts to reduce preventable maternal deaths.

The Technical Working Group is responsible for developing the MMARP Roadmap for 2026 to 2030, which will guide national interventions aimed at improving maternal health outcomes over the next four years.

The group is expected to define strategic pillars for reducing maternal mortality and identify priority interventions with the greatest potential to prevent deaths among pregnant women and new mothers.

It will also develop implementation frameworks, monitoring and evaluation systems, and a sustainable financing strategy to ensure the effective delivery and tracking of interventions under the programme.

The Ministry of Health said the approach reflects the need for coordinated action involving health experts and key stakeholders across the sector.

“Reducing maternal mortality requires more than isolated interventions; it demands a coordinated national effort backed by clear priorities, sustainable financing, strong implementation systems and continuous accountability,” the Ministry said.

It added that the MMARP Roadmap provided an opportunity to translate national commitment into practical action and improve the chances of mothers surviving pregnancy and childbirth.

The second meeting comes as the government seeks to accelerate the development of the roadmap in response to persistent concerns over Ghana’s maternal mortality figures.

The Ministry said the initiative aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s broader vision of strengthening healthcare delivery and developing practical, locally driven solutions to major health challenges.

The roadmap is expected to move the country away from fragmented interventions towards a structured and sustainable national response to maternal mortality.

A key focus will be securing reliable financing, with the Ministry recognising that sustained improvements in maternal health require consistent funding rather than short-term interventions.

The 2026 to 2030 roadmap is expected to provide a framework for government agencies, healthcare providers and development partners to coordinate their efforts and measure progress.

Once completed, the roadmap will require formal adoption and implementation across the country.

Health sector stakeholders are expected to closely monitor the process as the Ministry works to translate the group’s recommendations into concrete measures capable of reducing preventable maternal deaths and improving outcomes for women and newborns.