A NEW DAWN FOR MATERNAL CARE AT COCOA CLINIC

Date: 12th August 2025

By Rhoda Onyinah and Issah Alhassan.
Public Affairs Department, COCOBOD

For more than fifty years, Cocoa Clinic, a proud subsidiary of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has been a trusted pillar of healthcare in Ghana. From cocoa-growing regions to urban communities, the Clinic has delivered high-quality, compassionate care to thousands of patients. Based in Accra, it has earned a reputation for medical excellence, professionalism, and a deep commitment to the well-being of every individual it serves.

Yet, for all its achievements, one vital component of healthcare delivery remained absent: A comprehensive maternal care. But that gap is now being filled by a quiet but determined force: Dr. Paul Adomako Mensah, an obstetrician-gynaecologist whose vision and leadership are reshaping the Clinic’s future, and with it, the future of maternal health in Ghana.

Laying the Foundation for Lasting Change
Cocoa Clinic currently runs three key units: the surgical unit, wellness unit, and ward. But today, its transformation is being spearheaded from within the Wellness Centre, where Dr. Adomako Mensah is leading a maternal health revival with strategic guidance from the new management team.

Thanks to his efforts, the Clinic now houses a labour ward, postnatal ward, and neonatal unit fitted with incubators, delivery beds, radiant warmers, and phototherapy machines. A previously dormant operating theatre has also been revitalised for emergency obstetric procedures, placing the Clinic well ahead of many comparable public facilities.

Additionally, the High Dependency Unit (HDU) ensures that women with critical conditions receive the care they need before any referral. It’s a practical and life-saving solution that reflects the Clinic’s broader commitment to maternal safety.

A Journey Rooted in Purpose
Since 2016, Dr. Adomako Mensah has quietly built a reputation for excellence, offering specialist obstetric and gynaecological care to COCOBOD staff and the surrounding communities. Nearly a decade later, at just 43 years old, he is not only a father of three and a seasoned clinician but also a leading advocate for patient-centred, respectful maternity care.

“The dream is simple but bold,” he says. “To walk with women from the day they conceive, deliver their babies safely, and support them through recovery and early motherhood all in one trusted place.”

It is a dream rooted in both personal conviction and national urgency: Ghana’s efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3: reducing maternal mortality to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births, hinge on leaders like him.

Turning Constraints into Opportunities
For years, the general perception has been that Cocoa Clinic does not offer maternity care. Even some COCOBOD staff have been unaware of the services now available. This, Dr. Adomako Mensah admits, is part of the challenge. “Many still come on only Mondays or Fridays, the general gynaecology clinic days, because they don’t know we run antenatal clinics on Thursdays. We need to change the narrative.”

He is also clear about what holds the clinic back: space and staffing, not funding. “We’ve divided our rollout into phases,” he says. “Phase one is what we’re doing now: antenatal, postnatal, and scheduled caesareans. With just a few more midwives and a dedicated space, we can run full labour services 24/7.”

Despite the constraints, hope is on the horizon. The ongoing construction of a new administrative block is expected to free up space for clinical use, including maternity services. In the meantime, the team is working creatively to adapt.

Delivering with Dignity and Respect
At the heart of this transformation is a deep commitment to Respectful Maternal Care (RMC), a global standard that prioritises dignity, informed consent, and emotional safety for expectant mothers.

“We don’t just deliver babies, we deliver care that respects every woman’s humanity,” says Dr. Adomako Mensah. “We listen. We explain. We empower.”

That philosophy is already making a tangible difference. One patient, after years of pregnancy complications, recently gave birth safely under his care. “She thanks us often, but really, this is what we are here for,” he reflects.

Feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting shorter wait times, personalised care, and the empathy of the staff.

A Model for National Impact
What is happening at Cocoa Clinic is more than just a facility upgrade; it’s a model for expanding maternal healthcare across COCOBOD clinics nationwide.

“We have the personnel, we have the expertise, and we have the will,” says Dr. Adomako Mensah. “With just a little more support, maternity care can become a core COCOBOD service nationwide.”

He commends the Clinic’s new management for embracing this vision and calls on all stakeholders to do the same.

“We are building something sustainable. Something life-saving. Something that restores trust in our healthcare system.”

A Call to Action
Dr. Adomako Mensah’s motivation is rooted in a passion for women’s health, a dedication to COCOBOD’s workforce, and a desire to help Ghana meet the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.

“We are not just treating patients,” Dr. Adomako Mensah concludes. “We are building a system that can serve our people better and save lives.”

Today, Cocoa Clinic offers antenatal and postnatal care and is also ready to welcome its first natural delivery. But to fully realise the dream of comprehensive, round-the-clock maternal care, the Clinic needs awareness, resources, and above all, your trust.

This is not just a clinical upgrade, it’s a human one. A new chapter is unfolding in the Cocoa Clinic story and could mark a major breakthrough in safeguarding the lives of mothers and babies across Ghana.