GRNMA President Calls for Greater Investment in Midwives and Resilient Health Systems to Improve Maternal and Newborn Health Outcomes in Ghana

Invest in Midwives to Strengthen Maternal and Newborn Care — GRNMA President

The President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA),
Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, has called for sustained investment in midwives, essential medical
resources and stronger health systems to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in Ghana.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the GRNMA Midwives Society’s 3rd Biennial Conference
and Delegate Congress at the Windy Lodge and Beach Resort in Winneba, Mrs Ofori-Ampofo
stressed that the country cannot achieve sustainable development without a skilled, adequately
resourced and resilient midwifery workforce.

“There can be no sustainable and resilient maternal and newborn health system without strong midwives.
Investing in midwives is not simply an investment in healthcare; it is an investment in families,
communities, human capital and sustainable development.”

— Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, GRNMA President

She observed that preventable maternal and newborn deaths continue to devastate families and place
considerable emotional strain on the health professionals who care for affected patients. She
therefore called for improved access to maternal healthcare, better monitoring and referral systems,
adequate staffing, functional equipment, beds, oxygen and other essential resources.

“There should never be a situation where a midwife has the skills to care for a mother
but does not have the resources and equipment required to save her life,” she emphasised.

Mrs Ofori-Ampofo also expressed concern about the number of trained nurses and midwives who remain
unemployed despite persistent staffing gaps within health facilities, particularly in underserved
communities. She urged policymakers to align health workforce recruitment and deployment with the
country’s healthcare needs.

Strengthening Professional Practice

Addressing professional practice, she encouraged midwives to uphold professionalism, compassion
and excellence while committing themselves to lifelong learning. She advised practitioners to
participate in continuing professional development, undertake personal study and remain informed
about emerging standards, treatments and approaches to patient care.

“A resilient midwife creates resilient families; resilient families create resilient communities;
and resilient communities form the foundation of sustainable development.”

Accountability and Systemic Challenges

Touching on recent public discussions about adverse events within healthcare facilities, the
President cautioned against making frontline health workers convenient scapegoats for wider
systemic failures. She maintained that accountability must be accompanied by a comprehensive
examination of staffing, infrastructure, equipment, emergency capacity and institutional processes.

She further reminded nurses and midwives to practise within professional standards and ethical
requirements and to document every aspect of patient care accurately and comprehensively, noting
that proper documentation remains critical to continuity of care and professional protection.

Supporting the Wellbeing of Nurses and Midwives

Mrs Ofori-Ampofo acknowledged the commitment and sacrifices of nurses and midwives working under
difficult conditions across the country, particularly at the subdistrict level. She urged them
to protect their mental health, make time for rest and seek appropriate support amid the pressures
of their work.