The Births and Deaths Registry has raised concerns over the low rate of death registrations in Ghana, revealing that only 35% of deaths nationwide were officially recorded in 2024.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Burning Issues with host Akua Boakyewaa Yiadom, Emmanuel Nortey Botway, Head of Projects and Civil Registration Expert at the Registry, described the trend as alarming and called for greater public awareness and cooperation.
“What Ghanaians are poor at is registering the deaths of their relatives,” Mr. Botway noted.
“In 2024, we were able to register only 35% of deaths across the country, which is quite worrying,” he added.
To address the issue, the Registry has launched an initiative to collaborate with religious leaders, who will act as community-level notification points and encourage their congregants to register deaths.
“We’re engaging religious leaders to serve as a bridge, helping to notify us and spread the message to their members,” he explained.
On the topic of birth registration, Mr. Botway clarified that the Registry generally allows any name to be registered, except those deemed offensive.
“There’s a legal process we follow to assess and reject names that are inappropriate. Not all names are accepted,” he added.
The Registry is urging Ghanaians to recognize the importance of civil registration for planning, public policy, and national development.
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