Ghana is grappling with a severe shortage of midwives, mirroring a global crisis that requires nearly one million more midwives to ensure safe childbirth.
The situation is further worsened by the steady exodus of health workers. An estimated 3,000 nurses and midwives leave Ghana annually in search of better working conditions and pay abroad.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association) says addressing the challenges in the midwifery profession requires a comprehensive national strategy, stressing that simply training more midwives will not be enough.
Ashanti Regional First Vice Chairman of the Association, Philimon Adu Brempong, made the call at a symposium in Kumasi to mark the International Day of the Midwife, held in collaboration with the Midwives Society.
The celebration, under the global theme “One Million, More Midwives,” brought together policymakers, development partners, health professionals and student midwives.
Mr Brempong said the demand for midwifery services continues to rise, yet the workforce gap remains a major challenge, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
He stressed that any national strategy should ensure fair distribution of midwives, improved working conditions, continuous professional development, clear career progression pathways and measures to prevent burnout.
“The disparity between the number of pregnant women and available midwives is significant. Many midwives are also posted to cities, while underserved and rural communities face shortages. For this reason, scaling up midwifery training is essential to close the gap,” he said.
In her keynote address, the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor Veronica Millicent Dzomeku, emphasised the critical role of midwives in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
She noted that midwives support women through pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period by preventing complications, identifying risks early, saving mothers and newborns, and ensuring care is delivered with dignity and respect.
“Midwives not only bring life into the world, but they also help life begin safely with dignity and hope. Midwives protect the future,” she said.
Citing a World Health Organization report, she noted that a woman dies from pregnancy or childbirth complications approximately every two minutes globally.
Professor Dzomeku stressed that many of these deaths are preventable if trained midwives are equipped with the right resources and support.
Drawing on her research, she said strengthening midwifery care could avert up to 4.3 million deaths worldwide by 2035.
“Quality midwifery care could prevent 67% of maternal deaths, 64% of newborn deaths and 65% of stillbirths. By 2035, it could save up to 4.3 million lives each year,” she stated.
She called for urgent investment in midwifery education, describing it as one of the most cost-effective strategies for improving maternal and newborn survival.
“We need more faculty, simulation laboratories, modern evidence-based curricula, strong mentorship and continuous professional development. Government, the private sector and NGOs must hear the cry of midwives, mothers and communities, and act on the evidence,” she added.
Meanwhile, Ms Gertrude Adomako Mensah, Regional Coordinator of the Midwives Society, urged expectant mothers to prioritise antenatal care and regular hospital visits.
She also encouraged midwives to intensify counselling and engagement with pregnant women to ensure safer deliveries and improved maternal health outcomes.
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