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Women in labour take turns to deliver at Kpalworgu CHPS Compound in UWR
• Kpalworgu CHPS compound
Pregnant women in labour at Kpalworgu community in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region have to take turns to deliver at the only Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound in the community due to small space in the cubicle designated for birth.
The facility has one room available for healthcare services and has been partitioned into three cubicles with one serving as labour room, another as general consulting room and the other as a room for out-patient-department services for over 2,000 residents of Kpalworgu, Zowala and other farm settlements.
A representative of the Community Chief at a water commissioning programme at Kpalworgu, Mr. Seidu Mahamoud told The Spectator newspaper that “when two women are in labour at the same time, one would have to wait on the verandah for the one who accesses the facility first to finish delivery before the other takes her turn because the room can contain only one patient at a time”.
He lamented that the practice was against the well-being and dignity of women in the community and beyond as patients who visited the facility for general consultation could practically hear or chance on a woman in labour or delivering either in the cubicle or on the verandah.
“If all pregnant women in labour come for delivery, then the staff would really be overwhelmed; due to the poor nature of the road, some of the women from farther settlements deliver before they reach the facility and in the rainy season, some women deliver at home because their settlements get cut off from Kpalworgu, and all of these put the life of our women at risk”, he said with concern.
Meanwhile, the Sustainable Development Goal 3 preaches healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages with an extended target of reducing maternal mortality ratio by 70 per 100,000 live births.
Apparently, the size of the maternity ward was not the only challenge women faced in the community as Mr Seidu explained that sometimes pregnant women with complications who were referred to Bulenga, the nearest community for further treatment had no means of transportation.
“Men use bicycles and motorbikes to transport women in labour from their settlements to this facility or from this facility to town on referral cases; consider the risk in transporting a pregnant woman with complications to Bulenga (about an hour and half drive in a luxurious vehicle) on a motorbike”, he said.
Madam Asibi, a Fulani settler in the community told this reporter that she delivered her second child on the verandah when the other woman in the room at the time delayed in giving birth and the midwife had to attend to her instead and said at that point, the possibility of people seeing her nakedness was not something to consider due to the labour pains.
A mother of three, Abena Yibile narrated her ordeal when she was being transported in a tricycle (which is used to carry sachet water in other jurisdictions) together with other passengers from the village to Bulenga on referral to deliver her third child.
“The bumpy road was really unbearable but I had to be strong because I was not the only one on board and I had used the road on a motorbike earlier in my pregnancy, but looking back now, I think it is just a miracle that some of us do not miscarry under such circumstances”, she said.
The Community would be grateful if an additional facility is constructed for maternal cases only and also equipped with enough staff as well as a “tricycle ambulance” to aid in transporting referred patients to either Bulenga or Funsi.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Kpalworgu
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Armed Forces has confirmed that an escort convoy protecting civilians was attacked in Binduri in the Upper East Region, leaving three people dead.
In a press release issued on April 27, 2026, the military said the convoy, which was escorting about 140 civilians from Bawku to Bolgatanga, came under gunfire from unknown attackers.
It said the attackers shot at the convoy several times, killing three of the civilians being escorted and injuring one other person.
According to the statement, soldiers returned fire and were able to repel the attack. In the process, seven of the assailants were killed.
The military added that during a follow-up operation, weapons and ammunition were retrieved from a suspect who had taken refuge in a mosque.
The items included a G3 rifle, two loaded magazines, and additional rounds of ammunition.
It said ten other suspects have been arrested and are assisting with investigations.
The Ghana Armed Forces cautioned the public against engaging the military or any security agency during operations.
It extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured person a speedy recovery.
By: Jacob Aggrey
