The husband of a 31-year-old woman who died after undergoing a Caesarean section at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, popularly known as Ridge Hospital, has accused medical personnel involved in her care of negligence and unprofessional conduct.
Daniel Ofori Asante made the allegations in a public tribute to his late wife, Theresa Boakye Dua, on Friday, August 28, as the family prepared to lay her to rest.
According to Mr Asante, Theresa underwent a scheduled elective Caesarean section in what was expected to be the couple’s first experience of childbirth.
The couple had been married for 19 months and welcomed a baby boy, but the birth ended tragically with Theresa’s death.
“Theresa’s only fault was being pregnant and placing her trust in Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) for a scheduled, elective Caesarean section,” he wrote.
Mr Asante said he had been struggling to process the events surrounding his wife’s death since July 16, 2026.
He alleged that the circumstances leading to her death involved “blatant negligence and unprofessionalism”, although he did not provide specific details of the medical procedures, decisions or actions he believes amounted to negligence.
“Since the evening of July 16, 2026, I have lived in excruciating pain. I am still struggling to process the horrific ordeal my wife, our families and myself endured at Ridge Hospital,” he said.
He further alleged that decisions made by some individuals at the hospital contributed to Theresa’s death.
“Theresa was a gentle, peaceful, and unproblematic soul, yet reckless decisions made by some people at Ridge Hospital ensured her life was cut short,” he alleged.
Family left devastated
Theresa’s death has left behind her newborn son, who Mr Asante said would now have to grow up without his mother.
“Our baby boy has been robbed of the unconditional love of a devoted mother,” he wrote.
He said his wife had looked forward to raising their child and that it was painful knowing that their son would no longer experience the love and care she had hoped to give him.
Mr Asante also described the impact of the death on Theresa’s parents, noting that she was their only child.
“Every morning, I look at my mother-in-law and wonder how any mother survives the agony of losing her only child in the very act of bringing new life into this world,” he wrote.
He said Theresa’s father, who had been living outside Ghana and was not expected to return until 2027, had to travel back to Ghana following his daughter’s death.
“Picking my father-in-law up from the airport over the last 2 weeks was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life,” he said.
Theresa’s death, according to her husband, has also deeply affected her colleagues at the Ministry of Health, members of the ICGC Covenant Temple, as well as relatives and friends.
Husband promises to seek answers
Mr Asante said the family had been left with what he described as “irreparable” psychological trauma and indicated that he would pursue the matter after the funeral.
He also raised concerns about alleged “unprofessionalism, manipulation, and extortion”, but did not provide further evidence or details to substantiate those claims in his public statement.
“After I honour my wife today, Friday 28th August 2026, the full truth will be told,” he wrote.
While acknowledging that an investigation could not bring his wife back, Mr Asante said he wanted the circumstances surrounding her death thoroughly examined to prevent other families from experiencing a similar ordeal.
“Will this bring back the life of my wife? Absolutely not, but so that no other pregnant woman or family has to endure this living nightmare,” he said.
Maternal health concerns
Theresa’s death comes amid ongoing concerns about maternal health outcomes in Ghana.
Data from the Ghana Health Service show that the institutional maternal mortality rate rose marginally from 109.22 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 to 110 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024.
The Service also recorded a decline in skilled delivery coverage from 60.6% to 55% over the same period, while 860 women were reported to have died from pregnancy-related causes in 2023.
The latest WHO-led international estimates, published in 2025 and covering 2023, placed Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio at 234 deaths per 100,000 live births. Although the figure represented an improvement from previous years, it remained significantly above the Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
However, there is currently no independent evidence establishing that Theresa’s death was connected to the broader national maternal mortality figures.
Allegations yet to be independently verified
The allegations made by Mr Asante have not been independently verified, and the specific circumstances surrounding Theresa’s death remain unclear.
In particular, it has not been established whether there were any breaches of the accepted standard of medical care, what medical complications may have occurred, or whether any alleged failures contributed directly to her death.
Ridge Hospital and the Ghana Health Service had not publicly responded to the allegations as of publication.
Mr Asante, however, has vowed to continue seeking answers following his wife’s burial.
“I will lay you to rest today with an intensely heavy heart, as I promised you, but know that our fight for truth does not end here… To be continued.”
He concluded his tribute: “Rest in perfect peace, my best friend, my soulmate, and the love of my life. You did not deserve this.”
