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Births and Deaths Registry

BIRTH REGISTRATION

The birth of every child is to be registered in the district where the birth occurred. It is the duty of the father and mother to report the birth for registration.

Importance or birth registration

• It acknowledges a child’s existence legally

• Effective formulation of policies for children

• To provide accurate and reliable information on births and deaths

• Effectively check the problem of forced marriage/labour.

Procedure

1. The informant is required by law to produce evidence of birth such as a clinical weighing card.

2. The birth is registered free of charge within the 12months of occurrence.

3. The names of the father and mother are entered even if the parents are not married

4. For a birth to be registered, a Registration Officer administers a questionnaire (the birth report form “A”) to the informant i.e. the one who brought the child to be registered.

5. The information collected is thereby entered into the Births Register after which a Birth Certificate is issued to the child.


The birth shall be registered within 12 months from the date of birth and registration after this period shall be made on payment of a prescribed fee. The law (Act 301) has made provision for late registration of births but with a written authority of the Registrar of Births and Deaths and upon payment of the prescribed fee can entered into the register.

REGISTRATION OF FOETAL DEATHS

A foetal death is the death of a child prior the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother. The death is indicated by the fact that after such separation the foetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life , such as breathing , pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of muscles. Every foetal death which occurs in any district to which this act applies shall be registered as provided.

Procedure

1. The informant must present a written certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner or a midwife who was in attendance at the occurrence or who has examined the foetus or Make a declaration to the effect that no registered medical practitioner or midwife was present at the occurrence and that no certificate can be obtained in respect of the feotal death.

2. If Registrar is satisfied with the certificate or declaration, he shall register the death and thereafter issue a burial permit.


DEATHS REGISTRATION

Death registration is equally essential as this helps to generate the numerators required in calculation of important demographic and socio- economic indicators like mortality rates and others.

Importance of Death registration o . Prioritization of health needs o . Monitoring of interventions o . Compilation of life tables o . Estimation of life expectancy o . Generation of mortality rates i.e. infant mortality rate (IMR), Age Specific Death Rate (ASDR) etc.

Every death with occurs in the District must be reported within 24 hours after death. Any death and registration after this period shall only be made on payment of a prescribed fee (refer to Act 301).

Death registration procedure

1. The informant must provide adequate evidence of the death with documents such as a medical Certificate of Cause of Death, a Coroner’s Certificate.

2. Death registration Form “B” is completed by an officer whiles interviewing the informant.

3. The informant appends his signature to the Form “B” and the officer enters the information into the register.

4. The registration officer the issues; A burial permit where a the burial is to take place Within the district where the birth occurred or A death certificate (for a prescribed fee where burial is Outside the district where the death occurred.

5. Informant delivers burial permit to the Sexton/Manager of the Cemetery where deceased is to be buried or The informant surrenders Death certificate to the Registry Office nearest where the Deceased is to be buried for burial permit. This is then delivered to the Sexton/ manager for burial.

At the end of the month the Summary of all events in the district together with the Forms “A” and “B” to the regional office which also in turn forwards it to the Central Registry office in Accra.

 

SEARCHES OF RECORDS

Upon the application of a person, requesting for such information, and the Registrar thinks fit and upon the payment of a Prescribed Fee, being satisfied that the information is not to be used for any improper purpose, or causes may on behalf of that person on search:

(a) For the record of the registration in his office of any birth, foetal death or death

(b) For the record of any burial in his office.

 

ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES AND COPIES

Births Upon the application of a person, requesting for such information and the Registrar thinks fit and upon the payment of a Prescribed Fee, being satisfied that the information is not to be used for any improper purpose, or causes may on behalf of that person a certified copy of the entry in the Register of Births.

Deaths Upon the application of a person, requesting for such information and the Registrar thinks fit and upon the payment of a Prescribed Fee, being satisfied that the information is not to be used for any improper purpose, or causes may on behalf of that person a certified copy of the entry in the Register of Deaths.

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