THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
By Isaac Arko Inkum*
I write to express my thoughts on the tragic story of a young pregnant woman who died in a hospital in Ghana recently because nurses on duty failed to attend to her promptly. Sadly, both the young woman and the baby she carried lost their lives.
This incident, along with many others, has raised serious concerns about the poor attitude of some healthcare professionals in Ghana. Over the past five years, Ghana has experienced recurring cases of maternal deaths. The most recent case, which occurred in April 2026, involved Opoku Abigail, a 27- year-old woman who died at the Mother & Child Hospital. Her family has shared the painful ordeal that led to the death of both their daughter and her unborn baby. They expressed deep regret over the conduct of the healthcare professionals, insisting that their daughter might have survived if she had received timely care.
Chapter Six of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana – Directive Principles of State Policy – emphasizes that in securing democracy, the State must guarantee citizens their basic necessities of life as a fundamental duty. The State is therefore mandated to ensure that this obligation is not breached.
Access to quality maternal healthcare is a basic necessity to which every woman is entitled. The Patient Charter, as provided for under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), obliges health facilities in Ghana to respect patients’ rights and ensure that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a framework on Quality of Care and Respectful Maternal Care. This framework outlines standards to improve maternal and newborn care in health facilities. It highlights three key elements for a positive patient experience;
● Effective communication: Health professionals must communicate clearly and
respectfully with patients.
● Respect and dignity: The dignity of the woman and her unborn child must be prioritized.
● Emotional support: Patients should receive adequate emotional and supportive care,
including companionship where possible.
It is evident, from the Abigail Opoku case and similar incidents, that some healthcare professionals and facilities in Ghana have failed to provide timely care with the required dignity, respect and emotional support. Reports indicate that while Abigail lay in pain, snapping her fingers and calling for help, she was ignored by some nurses who were engrossed in their phones. She eventually died, and it took a mortuary attendant to perform procedures to remove the deceased baby.
I acknowledge that public health facilities in Ghana face serious challenges, including a shortage of beds. However, there is also a growing problem of unprofessional conduct among some healthcare workers. This is an urgent issue that requires immediate action. We cannot continue losing young women due to negligence and poor attitudes in healthcare delivery.
Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (1996) recognizes the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. It also calls on State Parties to take steps to reduce stillbirth rates and infant mortality.
The story of Abigail Opoku must awaken the conscience of healthcare professionals in Ghana and inspire a change in attitude. The Minister responsible for health must take the initiative to investigate the incident and apply sanctions where necessary. Failure to act will only worsen the situation and erode public confidence in Ghana’s healthcare system.
Abigail Opoku might still be alive today if she had received proper care, respect and timely attention when she called for help. She could have given birth to a healthy child – perhaps one who would have grown to become a future leader in Ghana. I call on the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana to fulfill its mandate under the Health Professionals Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (ACT). Section 54 states that the objective of the Council is to secure the highest standards of training and practice in nursing and midwifery in the public interest. To achieve this, the Council is mandated to:
● Exercise disciplinary control over the practitioners; and
● Monitor and inspect training institutions and health facilities in collaboration with the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council must demonstrate leadership by working with the Minister of Health to thoroughly investigate this case. Those found culpable must face appropriate sanctions. Additionally, the Council should conduct regular inspections of training institutions and health facilities to ensure adherence to professional ethics. Quality maternal healthcare is a fundamental human right. The loss of a woman and her child in a healthcare facility due to negligence is a preventable tragedy. Leadership must correct this.
* Isaac Arko Inkum, a lawyer and global citizen, is a Masters Student in Human Rights, Law, Politics and Society at the Hochschule Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Germany
