Ashanti Region faces rising maternal mortality crisis as deaths climb in 2025

New health data reveals a troubling trend in Ghana's most populous region, with the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate confirming that maternal mortality rates have continued their upward trajectory into 2025. The region's maternal mortality ratio—a key health indicator measuring maternal deaths per 100,000 live births—increased marginally from 195.6 in 2024 to 196.7 this year, marking a persistent public health challenge that demands urgent attention.

Though the year-on-year increase appears modest in numerical terms, the data underscores a critical reality: mothers in Ashanti Region continue to face elevated risks during pregnancy and childbirth compared to other parts of Ghana. This trend comes as health authorities across the country grapple with the broader challenge of reducing preventable maternal deaths, a longstanding development priority for the health sector.

Why it matters for Ghana

Maternal mortality remains one of Ghana's most stubborn health indicators. The World Health Organisation and global development agencies have consistently flagged high maternal death rates as a barrier to achieving sustainable development goals, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where Ghana is situated. The Ashanti Region, home to over 10 million people, represents a significant portion of Ghana's population, making trends there particularly consequential for national health statistics and policy responses.

That maternal deaths are occurring at a ratio of nearly 197 per 100,000 births reflects systemic challenges: gaps in antenatal care access, delays in reaching health facilities, shortages of skilled birth attendants, and inadequate emergency obstetric services in some areas. When a region's maternal mortality ratio inches upward rather than downward, it signals that existing interventions may not be reaching vulnerable populations effectively, or that new health threats—such as complications from untreated infections or rising blood pressure disorders—are emerging.

For pregnant women and their families across Ashanti, these statistics translate into real risks. Every figure in the mortality ratio represents a preventable tragedy in many cases, leaving behind grieving families and raising questions about the quality and accessibility of maternal health services.

Wider context and concerns

Ghana has made progress on maternal health in recent decades, but progress has been uneven. Urban centres and better-resourced regions typically report lower maternal mortality than rural or less-developed areas. That Ashanti Region—which includes Kumasi, Ghana's second-largest city—still registers such elevated rates suggests that even in relatively developed regions, maternal health gaps persist.

The directorate's reporting of this data is a positive step toward transparency, allowing health officials, researchers, and civil society to identify problems and advocate for solutions. Common approaches to reducing maternal mortality include strengthening emergency obstetric care capacity, improving antenatal screening, training and retaining skilled birth attendants, and tackling underlying causes such as anaemia, malnutrition, and untreated infections.

Regional health authorities will need to conduct deeper analysis of where these deaths are occurring—whether in hospitals, health centres, or at home—and what specific medical complications are driving them. Such granular data is essential for designing targeted interventions.

Looking ahead

The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate's disclosure of these figures creates an opportunity for stakeholders—including the Ministry of Health, non-governmental organisations, development partners, and community leaders—to mobilise resources and expertise. Addressing maternal mortality requires sustained commitment to healthcare infrastructure, staff training, and community education on the importance of skilled birth attendance and timely medical intervention.