Govt Is Developing A Roadmap To Address Challenges Affecting Maternal Healthcare-Dep Health Minister

According to a report by TV3Gh, on Tuesday October 20, 2026, the government is developing a comprehensive roadmap to address challenges affecting maternal healthcare delivery across Ghana, with a focus on improving standards of care, strengthening quality assurance and ensuring dedicated funding for maternal health services.

Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah disclosed this during a sitting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where several health institutions and public agencies appeared to respond to issues raised in the 2025 Auditor-General’s Performance Audit Reports.

According to the Deputy Health Minister, the government has identified key challenges affecting maternal healthcare and is working towards establishing a coordinated framework to ensure that women receive consistent and quality medical attention regardless of where they access healthcare in the country.

She explained that the proposed roadmap would help establish uniform standards of care across all regions, while strengthening quality control and quality assurance within the maternal healthcare system.

Dr. Ayensu-Danquah also stressed the importance of securing dedicated funding for maternal health, highlighting the need for adequate financial resources to support interventions aimed at improving healthcare delivery for pregnant women and mothers.

The initiative comes amid continued efforts to address preventable maternal deaths and improve the quality of services available to women before, during and after childbirth.

Beyond maternal healthcare, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah revealed that the government had begun piloting a technology-driven bed management system designed to address shortages of beds in hospital emergency departments.

She explained that the pilot phase had already commenced, with hospitals establishing bed management teams to support the implementation of the system.

The initiative is expected to improve the monitoring and management of available hospital beds, helping healthcare facilities respond more effectively to patient admissions and emergency cases.

Bed shortages remain a significant operational challenge for hospitals, particularly emergency departments where patients may require immediate medical attention.

An effective bed management system could help health facilities coordinate admissions and make better use of available resources.

The introduction of technology into the process is also expected to support more efficient management of hospital capacity and improve the flow of patients requiring urgent treatment.

The Public Accounts Committee hearing also focused on audit infractions involving some of Ghana’s major public health facilities.

Representatives from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital, also known as Ridge Hospital, Pantang Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital appeared before the committee to respond to findings contained in the 2025 Auditor-General’s Performance Audit Report on the management of mortuary facilities in public hospitals.

The proceedings formed part of efforts to obtain explanations from public institutions regarding identified administrative and operational shortcomings and to assess the measures being taken to address them.

The Births and Deaths Registry also presented updates on issues raised in the 2025 Performance Audit Report concerning government interventions to reduce maternal mortality in Ghana.

The discussions brought attention to the need for stronger institutional oversight, improved management practices and effective implementation of recommendations arising from public audits.

During the same sitting, the Public Accounts Committee announced that it had fulfilled its corporate social responsibility commitment by settling outstanding debts totalling GH¢33,100 owed to Pantang Hospital.

The amount comprised GH¢17,000 owed by the Ghana Medical Association and GH¢16,100 owed by the Akuapem South Municipal Assembly.

The debts reportedly arose from the treatment of individuals with mental health conditions who had been found on the streets and subsequently received care at the hospital.

The settlement addresses the outstanding payments for the treatment provided to the affected individuals and highlights the financial responsibilities that can arise when public health institutions care for vulnerable people who may lack immediate access to support.

Pantang Hospital is among the country’s specialised mental healthcare institutions, making the settlement relevant to discussions about the funding and sustainability of services for people experiencing mental health challenges.

Elsewhere during the hearing, the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF), which operates under the National Petroleum Authority, reported that the deployment of technology had significantly improved its ability to obtain real-time data and track the movements of Bulk Road Vehicles (BRVs).

The institution presented the development as part of its response to audit concerns, demonstrating how technology can support monitoring, record-keeping and operational oversight within public agencies.

The committee eventually concluded its hearing after discharging representatives of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) because the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund, Michael Harry Yamson, was absent.

The government’s proposed maternal healthcare roadmap and the pilot bed management initiative form part of broader efforts to address challenges within Ghana’s healthcare system.

As the process continues, the effectiveness of the proposed measures will depend on how quickly the roadmap is completed, the resources committed to its implementation and the ability of health institutions across the country to meet the required standards.

The announcement by Dr. Ayensu-Danquah places maternal healthcare improvement, hospital capacity and accountability among the key issues under consideration as authorities work to strengthen the delivery of public health services in Ghana.

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