The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has revealed that between 2020 and 2024, a total of 1,000 women lost their lives while giving birth in the Ashanti Region.

This figure underscores the persistent challenge of maternal mortality in the region, despite ongoing efforts to improve maternal healthcare.

Speaking at the 2024 Regional Health Forum in the Ashanti Region, the Regional Health Director, Dr. Frank Adomanko Boateng, emphasised the urgent need for stronger interventions to curb the high rate of maternal deaths.

He acknowledged that authorities are in a race against time to meet national and global targets aimed at reducing maternal mortality.

Dr. Boateng highlighted the region’s struggle to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

According to him, the current figures indicate that the region is lagging behind and needs to intensify efforts to bridge the gap within the next six years.

“Time is not on our side as we wish to achieve the target of 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. The clock is ticking and we must double our efforts.”