Akosua Manu, popularly known in media circles as Kozie and an Advisor on Gender and Social Protection to NPP Flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called for an urgent national response to Ghana’s maternal mortality crisis.
Kozie is urging Parliament to establish a bipartisan inquiry into the deaths of women during pregnancy and childbirth as concerns over maternal mortality continue to grow across the country.
According to her, the persistent loss of women from pregnancy-related complications requires immediate national attention, stronger healthcare systems and a coordinated response from the government, Parliament and other stakeholders.
Kozie Reacts to Maternal Death at Ridge Hospital
In a Facebook post, Kozie reacted to the death of a woman identified as Theresa Boakye, who reportedly died at Ridge Hospital in Accra in July 2026.
She said the incident had once again highlighted the devastating impact of maternal deaths on families, newborns and communities.
Kozie cited a figure of 965 women who reportedly died from pregnancy-related complications in Ghana in 2025, describing the number as deeply alarming.
She stressed that maternal mortality statistics represent real people, including mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and friends whose deaths leave lasting consequences for their families.
“We do not take maternal mortality seriously enough,” she stated.
Kozie argued that Ghana must move beyond treating maternal deaths as individual or isolated tragedies and instead address the systemic challenges affecting maternal healthcare delivery.
Parliament Urged to Investigate Maternal Deaths
Kozie has called on Parliament to investigate the factors contributing to maternal deaths across Ghana.
Among the areas she wants examined are the availability of emergency obstetric care, blood supplies, referral systems, healthcare staffing levels, emergency response times and conditions at health facilities.
She stressed that any parliamentary investigation should lead to concrete action and measurable improvements rather than producing another report that receives little or no implementation.
According to her, protecting women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period must become a national priority, particularly because many maternal deaths can be prevented when appropriate medical interventions and healthcare systems are available.
Stronger Maternal Healthcare Could Save Lives
Kozie said Ghana has the capacity to reduce preventable maternal deaths by improving healthcare infrastructure, strengthening emergency medical services and ensuring that pregnant women receive timely and quality medical care.
“When we pay attention, when we put the right systems in place and when we are deliberate about maternal healthcare, we save lives,” she said.
Her comments come amid ongoing discussions about maternal health in Ghana, access to quality healthcare and the need to improve emergency services for pregnant women.
Maternal Mortality Also Affects Newborns and Families
Kozie also highlighted the often-overlooked impact of maternal deaths on newborn babies and grieving families.
She recounted an experience involving a newborn who reportedly received limited attention for several days because relatives were overwhelmed by the sudden death of the child’s mother.
She said the incident demonstrated how maternal mortality can create a chain of challenges extending beyond the death of the mother, affecting the emotional wellbeing, care and future of newborn children.
Call for Urgent Action on Maternal Mortality in Ghana
Kozie is therefore calling on government, Parliament, healthcare professionals and other national stakeholders to treat maternal mortality as a national emergency.
She believes Ghana needs sustained political commitment, stronger health systems, adequate resources, improved emergency obstetric services and greater accountability to reduce pregnancy-related deaths.
She concluded that Ghana has the capacity to improve its maternal healthcare outcomes and must take decisive action to ensure that pregnancy and childbirth become moments of joy rather than sources of preventable loss and grief.
Source: newsthemegh.com