The President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ghana (SOGOG), Prof. Thomas O. Konney, has called for a united national effort to eliminate preventable maternal deaths, declaring that every woman in Ghana deserves safe pregnancy, quality healthcare and the opportunity to survive childbirth.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 SOGOG Annual General and Scientific Meeting in Kumasi, Prof. Konney said although Ghana had made significant progress in maternal healthcare over the years, the continued loss of women during pregnancy and childbirth remained unacceptable.
Addressing hundreds of obstetricians, gynaecologists, medical specialists, researchers, policymakers, development partners and healthcare professionals gathered at the Miklin Hotel, he urged stakeholders to move beyond commitments and work collectively to transform maternal healthcare delivery across the country.
The four-day conference, being held from July 30 to August 2 under the theme, “Every Mother Counts: Ending Preventable Maternal Deaths in Ghana in Line with SDG 3 Targets,” is examining practical strategies to improve maternal and reproductive healthcare and accelerate Ghana’s progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Prof. Konney described maternal mortality as one of Ghana’s most pressing public health challenges, noting that while investments in antenatal care, skilled birth attendance and maternal health programmes had produced encouraging results, many women were still dying from preventable causes.
He explained that severe postpartum haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, infections, unsafe abortions and childbirth complications continued to account for many maternal deaths across the country.
According to him, most of these deaths can be prevented through timely access to quality healthcare, skilled birth attendants, effective emergency obstetric services and stronger referral systems.
“The statistics before us are not just numbers. Behind every maternal death is a grieving family, a devastated community and a lost future,” Prof. Konney said.
He stressed that every maternal death represents a tragedy that demands urgent action from all sectors of society.
Prof. Konney reaffirmed his conviction that every woman, irrespective of where she lives or her economic background, deserves respectful, timely and quality maternal healthcare.
“Our collective responsibility is clear.
Every mother deserves dignity. Every mother deserves quality care. Every mother deserves the opportunity to survive pregnancy and childbirth,” he stated.
The SOGOG President urged government, healthcare institutions, development partners, traditional authorities, religious organisations, civil society groups and families to strengthen collaboration in addressing the country’s maternal health challenges.
He maintained that no single institution could overcome maternal mortality alone, insisting that sustained partnerships remain the foundation for lasting improvements in maternal and newborn healthcare.
As part of his vision for advancing maternal healthcare, Prof. Konney announced five strategic priorities that SOGOG would pursue.
These include promoting excellence in clinical care through continuous professional development, strengthening the maternal health workforce through improved specialist training and equitable deployment, supporting research and innovation to generate evidence-based solutions, advocating policies that improve maternal healthcare services and expanding partnerships with stakeholders across the health sector.
He also appealed to traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to encourage pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics early, deliver in health facilities under skilled supervision and seek postnatal care while discouraging harmful cultural practices that place expectant mothers at risk.
Prof. Konney commended the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and development partners for their continued investments in maternal and reproductive healthcare, describing their contributions as vital to Ghana’s progress.
He equally paid tribute to obstetricians, gynaecologists, midwives, nurses and other frontline healthcare workers whose dedication and professionalism continue to save the lives of mothers and newborns across the country.
He encouraged participants at the scientific meeting to use the conference as an opportunity to exchange knowledge, present innovative research, challenge existing practices and develop practical solutions capable of improving maternal healthcare nationwide.
Beyond the scientific sessions, members of SOGOG will also review the Society’s activities during their Annual General Meeting and deliberate on policy reforms aimed at strengthening specialist obstetric and gynaecological practice in Ghana.
Prof. Konney expressed confidence that through innovation, research, stronger partnerships and sustained political commitment, Ghana could significantly reduce preventable maternal deaths and move closer to achieving the SDG target by 2030.
He concluded by welcoming delegates to Kumasi and reaffirming SOGOG’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that no woman dies from preventable pregnancy or childbirth-related complications, urging all stakeholders to turn the conference’s resolutions into concrete actions that save lives.
