The Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace as part of the Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (MMARP) in the Ashanti Region.
The engagement formed part of the second day of activities under the programme, which seeks to address the high incidence of maternal deaths and strengthen interventions aimed at improving maternal and reproductive healthcare.
During the meeting, Dr Ayensu-Danquah briefed the Asantehene on the urgent challenge of maternal mortality and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reversing the trend.
She said President John Dramani Mahama’s administration was committed to tackling maternal deaths through targeted policy interventions, strategic partnerships and community-led approaches.
The Deputy Minister emphasised the importance of engaging traditional leaders and communities in efforts to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly in areas where women face barriers to accessing timely healthcare.
As part of the engagement, a donation was presented to the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation in recognition of its contributions to development and its interventions in communities across the Ashanti Region.
The delegation included the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene; the UNFPA Country Representative, Dr David Wilfred Ochan; and the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Fred Adomako-Boateng.
The engagement forms part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Health and its partners to mobilise support and strengthen community-level interventions to reduce preventable maternal deaths.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that no woman loses her life while giving birth, stressing the need for sustained collaboration among government institutions, traditional authorities, development partners and communities.
