Ghana: PRIMER aims for fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 births

On Monday, September 14, Ghana launched the Presidential Initiative PRIMER in Accra, a five-year program aimed at reducing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths, targeting fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang presented the initiative as a response to shortcomings that extend beyond healthcare facilities. The program will address emergency transfers, transportation, staffing, access to blood and medications, equipment, data, and coordination among institutions.

Data published by the United Nations Population Fund highlights the scale of the gap. The maternal mortality ratio in Ghana decreased from 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 301 in 2022. The organization also estimates that 2,766 women die each year from pregnancy-related causes, with nearly 900 maternal deaths recorded between January and November 2025, according to preliminary data from the Ghana Health Service.

PRIMER is based on three pillars: political and social mobilization, data-driven accountability, and sustainable national funding complemented by external support. The program also aims to enhance the monitoring of maternal and perinatal deaths and to conduct regular reviews of outcomes.

Challenges include the speed of transfers to facilities capable of handling obstetric emergencies. The Vice President cited transportation, communication, water, and energy as factors that can delay care and turn a treatable complication into a fatal situation.

The United Nations Population Fund estimates that fewer than 5% of emergency obstetric and neonatal care facilities currently meet the required standards. PRIMER will operate within the mandates of existing institutions and strengthen access to blood, medications, essential equipment, and patient referral systems.