Ghana closed a long-standing gap in its health system on Thursday, April 9, 2026, when the government officially launched the Maternal Mental Health Policy (MMHP).
The Mental Health Authority led the launch in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and key national stakeholders. The authority also disseminated findings from a Maternal Mental Health Pilot Project implemented across five regions. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UKFCDO) provided funding support for the pilot.
The launch brought together government officials, development partners, health professionals, academia, civil society, and the media. The gathering reflected a growing recognition of maternal mental health as a critical but often overlooked component of maternal and child health.
The policy addressed a stark reality: for every 10 women who gave birth in Ghana, almost all received no form of mental health care. Conditions such as anxiety and depression therefore often went undetected and untreated, with limited integration of mental health services into routine maternal care.
The new policy directly responded to this need. It provided a framework to integrate mental health into maternal and child health services at all levels of care.
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, Dr Eugene Dordoye, emphasized the policy’s importance.
“This Maternal Mental Health Policy comes to break the silence, close the gap, and ensure every mother gets the support she deserves,” he said.
The policy drew lessons from a pilot project conducted in five regions. That pilot tested approaches such as early screening, community-based support, and the integration of mental health into existing maternal health services. Findings from the pilot helped shape a more practical and context-specific national response.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr Sofonias Asrat highlighted the broader impact of maternal mental health on families and national development.
“Maternal mental health is the foundation of healthy families. Safeguarding the emotional well-being of the mother, therefore, translates into safeguarding the future of Ghana,” he noted.
Parliament also expressed its commitment to ensuring the policy delivered results.
“We will exercise our oversight to ensure every cedi allocated to maternal mental health is used effectively. We want to see results in the reduction of maternal distress and improvement of child development outcomes,” said Dr Titus Kofi Beyuo, Member of Parliament for Lambussie Constituency.
Development partners reiterated the importance of sustained investment to support implementation.
“Investing in maternal mental health is not a cost. It is a high-return investment in productivity, child development and Ghana’s wider ambition for health sovereignty,” said Terri Sarch, Development Director at UKFCDO.
With the policy now launched, the focus shifted to implementation—ensuring that maternal mental health services became fully integrated into routine care and accessible to women across the country.
Source: WHO
