In 2025, 965 Ghanaian women died from pregnancy-related complications, a number that has left many questioning the government's commitment to improving access to emergency healthcare. Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's Advisor on Gender and Social Protection, Akosua Manu, is among those calling for action.
Zipline Drone Programme in Limbo
Akosua Manu has expressed concern over the reported disruption of the Zipline medical drone programme, which was championed by Dr Bawumia. The programme aimed to ensure critical supplies such as blood and emergency medicines reach health facilities quickly. Ms Manu believes that if there are real problems with the cost or management of Zipline, they should be fixed.
Agenda 111 Hospitals Left to Rot
Ms Manu also pointed out the slow progress of Agenda 111, a project intended to bring healthcare facilities closer to underserved communities. The abandoned hospitals are meant to address the issue of physical accessibility, but the technology and logistics to support them are still lacking. Ghana needs a health system that is both physically accessible and technologically enabled, she noted.
A Wake-Up Call for Ghana
Akosua Manu believes that the rising maternal deaths should serve as a wake-up call for Ghana to prioritise solutions that can improve access to emergency healthcare rather than the politics surrounding it. She urged the government to reconsider interventions that could improve access to emergency healthcare. In a Facebook post, she said: "Mothers. Daughters. Wives. Sisters. Women who walked into our health system carrying life and never walked back out."
The Cost of Delay
The delay in implementing the Zipline drone programme and the slow progress of Agenda 111 are coming at a great cost. Every year, thousands of women in Ghana die from preventable causes. The government's inaction is not only a failure to its citizens but also a missed opportunity to showcase its commitment to improving healthcare outcomes. As Ms Manu noted, if there is something better, the government should show it and deploy it.
What's Next?
The question now is what the government will do next. Will it address the issues with Zipline and Agenda 111, or will it continue to ignore the pleas of citizens like Akosua Manu? The clock is ticking, and every day that passes brings the risk of more women losing their lives to preventable causes. The government must act quickly to prevent further tragedy and ensure that the women of Ghana have access to the emergency healthcare they need.
Source: Joy Online
