ELS: MBN360 HEALTH
The Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMa) has been launched with a call for sustained national action to reduce Ghana’s persistently high maternal mortality rate.
The initiative, launched on Monday, September 14, 2026, follows concerns over the country’s slow progress in reducing maternal deaths. Economist and Chairman of the National Development Planning Committee, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, said the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMa) was inspired by President John Dramani Mahama’s concern about Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio, which remains around 300 per 100,000 lives births.
Dr. Thompson said the President had described the situation as unacceptable and called for urgent action to reverse the trend.
“The purpose of PRIMa, ladies and gentlemen, is to ensure that maternal health receives the sustained political attention, coordination and accountability that it demands by the scale of the challenge.”
He said PRIMa was developed through collaboration between the Presidency, the health sector, the National Development Planning Commission, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other stakeholders.
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According to Dr. Thompson, the initiative is expected to complement existing national programmes rather than operate as a parallel structure. He cited the Maternal Mortality Reduction Acceleration and Response Program as one of the programmes PRIMa will support.
He said Ghana’s responsibility extends beyond achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.1, stressing the need to build a health system where pregnant women receive timely, respectful and quality care.
“Preventable maternal deaths are treated as failures that demand learning, correction, and immediate action.”
Dr. Thompson said stronger leadership and accountability would be required at the national, regional, district and health facility levels to ensure the initiative delivers results.
He called on stakeholders to work together to ensure that no woman loses her life while trying to give life.
