The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has emphasized the urgent need for digital transformation, institutional strengthening, and strategic investment in Ghana’s civil registration systems during the Births and Deaths Registry Management Retreat held in Accra on Tuesday.

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister described the retreat as a pivotal moment for the Registry to review its first-quarter performance for 2025 and strategize toward achieving universal registration coverage.

“In 2024, the Registry recorded 663,226 births and 53,671 deaths, representing 91% and 39% coverage, respectively,” he stated.

“While this shows notable progress, it also exposes significant gaps, especially in death registration, which must be urgently addressed.”

The Minister reiterated Ghana’s commitment to international frameworks, including SDG 16.9, which calls for legal identity for all by 2030, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, both of which position civil registration as fundamental to inclusive development and governance.

As the Births and Deaths Registry marks its 60th anniversary, the Minister praised its contributions to national development, describing it as a key provider of critical data for policymaking.

He, however, called for renewed efforts to tackle infrastructural deficits and modernize operations.

“Our Ministry remains committed to achieving universal coverage through the elimination of registration bottlenecks, decentralization, and the integration of digital innovations,” he said.

The Minister outlined several initiatives to strengthen the Registry's capacity under the current government led by President John Dramani Mahama, including:

Completion of the restructured Scheme of Service to enhance human resource development.

Equipping over 2,000 registration officers and volunteers across 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

Establishing new regional offices and refurbishing dilapidated facilities to meet global CRVS standards.

Procuring 2,000 tablets for real-time registration and data collation.

Constructing a permanent National Office for the Registry.

Increasing the fleet of vehicles and motorbikes to reach remote areas.

The Minister lauded the development of the Harmonized Births and Deaths Registration Portal but stressed the need for further integration with key national institutions.

He called for full interoperability between the Births and Deaths Registry, Ghana Health Service, National Identification Authority, Ghana Police Service, and others, noting that “such collaboration is crucial for real-time data exchange and efficient service delivery.”

Highlighting the importance of grassroots governance, the Minister emphasized decentralisation as a continuous process that must evolve with the nation’s needs.

“The integration of district-level staff into the Office of the Head of Local Government Service is a step forward.

But we must go further to ensure accurate and timely data collection at the community level,” he said, quoting policy expert Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi to support the call for adaptive and responsive governance structures.

In conclusion, the Minister urged all stakeholders to seize the retreat as an opportunity to adopt innovative strategies, strengthen collaboration, and reimagine the future of the Registry.

“This retreat is not just a review—it is a call to action. Let us ensure that every birth and every death in Ghana is recorded with dignity and precision,” he said. “Together, we will build a more inclusive, efficient, and data-driven Ghana.”