Ghana is on track in achieving a number of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, MDGs 4 and 5 are likely to be missed, a research conducted by the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) had revealed.

MDG 4 aims at reducing by two- thirds from 1990 to 2015, the under-five mortality rate while MDG 5 is targeting the reduction of maternal mortality rate by three-quarters within the period under review.

The findings of the research were made known at a stakeholder’s forum at the Bongo district of the Upper East region.

The stakeholders included health workers, opinion leaders, National Health Insurance staff, youth groups and journalists.

The research was conducted in 2012 at Bongo and Builsa Districts of the Upper East region, and Agona East and Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem Districts of the Central Region. The research acknowledged the fact that Ghana had mainstreamed the MDGs into the medium-term National Development Policy framework.

It indicated that although institutional maternal mortality rate in some regions had reduced, it was higher in most health facilities.

The situation was blamed on unskilled delivery and lack of midwives.

The research recommended for more midwives to be trained to provide quality healthcare delivery skills while government was urged to provide more logistics and medical equipment to equip the health various facilities.

Ms Patricia Opoku Afriyie, Programme Officer of ARHR, who presented the research findings, explained that her outfit - with funding from Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development Aid, of The Netherlands implemented the “Citizens Health Accountability Project from 2010 to 2012.

“The project carried out annual participatory monitoring on MDGs 4 and 5 in the four mentioned Districts,” she said.