15% of maternal mortality deaths in Kumasi are ‘imported’- Health Director
Health delivery in the Ashanti Region is under scrutiny following new revelations surrounding maternal mortality figures in the region. Available figures show the Ashanti Region accounts for almost a quarter of all national maternal deaths, but a deeper dive into the situation tells a far more complex story – one involving referral bottlenecks, peripheral staffing […]
The Ashanti Region in Ghana accounts for nearly a quarter of all national maternal deaths, with a maternal mortality ratio of 196.7 per 100,000 live births in 2025, slightly higher than the national average. While 85% of these cases originate within the region, 15% are "imported" from outside the Ashanti Region, as revealed by the Ashanti Regional Health Director, Dr Fred Adomako-Boateng.
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the region's only teaching hospital, has recorded approximately 62% of maternal deaths, but Dr. Adomako-Boateng emphasized that 92% of women who died at KATH were referred from outside the region. The issue is compounded by severe understaffing at peripheral and receiving facilities, leading to extreme workloads and uncoordinated referrals.
Brief written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
