The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) recorded a 30% decline in institutional maternal deaths for the first time in a decade. The hospital registered 55 maternal deaths between January and June 2026. This figure is a significant reduction from the 78 deaths reported during the same period in 2025.
This notable improvement stems partly from the operationalisation of KATH’s Maternal Intensive Care Unit. This unit received crucial support from anaesthesia and intensive care specialists. KATH also strengthened its collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service. This partnership aims to provide clinical mentorship and capacity-building support to health facilities across the region.
This development aligns with broader national efforts to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce maternal mortality rates. Ghana has historically faced challenges in maternal healthcare, making KATH’s achievement a positive indicator for public health infrastructure. The reduction demonstrates the impact of targeted investments and strategic partnerships in critical health sectors.
Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, KATH’s Chief Executive Officer, described this outcome as a significant improvement. He emphasized that no woman should die from pregnancy-related complications. Dr. Baidoo made these remarks at the hospital’s 2026 Mid-year Performance Review Conference in Kumasi. He expressed optimism for further reductions as the remaining beds in the Maternal Intensive Care Unit become operational.
This progress has direct implications for public health policy and resource allocation within Ghana’s healthcare system. It highlights the effectiveness of specialized units and regional collaboration in addressing complex health challenges. Decision-makers will likely examine KATH’s model for potential replication in other major referral hospitals. The focus will remain on sustaining these gains and addressing other areas needing improvement, such as delivery and surgery targets.
KATH serves as a major referral centre, handling complex cases from across the Ashanti Region and beyond. This role often contributes to historically high numbers of maternal deaths. However, Dr. Baidoo clarified that these figures do not indicate poor quality care. Instead, they reflect the large volume of patients and the severity of cases referred to the hospital. The hospital’s proactive measures are now showing tangible results.
Beyond maternal care, KATH has also expanded other specialist services. It completed work on its Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Centre, set to become operational this month. This facility will make KATH the first public health institution in Ghana to operate a state-of-the-art specialist fertility centre. The main Dialysis Centre also underwent refurbishment and reopened, expanding access to vital dialysis services. It now boasts 13 functioning dialysis machines, with additional units at the Accident and Emergency Centre.
The hospital’s Specialist Out-Patient Department recorded 149,055 attendances between January and June 2026. This exceeded its mid-year target of 139,740 and represented a 3.61% increase over the same period in 2025. Emergency attendance reached 14,467, surpassing a target of 12,400, marking an 8.66% year-on-year increase. Laboratory services also saw a 26.49% increase, handling 174,367 cases. While primary care attendance was slightly below target, KATH plans to focus on improving performance in areas like deliveries, surgeries, and physiotherapy to meet all set objectives.