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| (Henrietta Lamptey, acting Registrar of Births and Deaths) |
The Births and Deaths Registry (BDR) is facing significant financial limitations, with only 33% of its internally generated funds (IGF) being retained, contrary to the 50% allocation mandated by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 2020 (Act 1027). According to the BDR, the Ministry of Finance has imposed a cap on the generated revenue, restricting them to retain only a third of their IGF from activities such as late registration and verification. This constraint has posed operational challenges for the registry nationwide.
Revenue Generation Struggles
During a presentation to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development of Parliament, Henrietta Lamptey, the acting Registrar of Births and Deaths, highlighted the financial strain caused by the provision of free registration for births from zero to 12 months. She emphasized that the focus on increasing birth registrations has led to a reduction in revenue, creating a dilemma for the registry. This underscores the complexities involved in balancing service provision and financial sustenance.
Committee Meeting and Challenges
The Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, headed by Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi, visited the BDR's office to gain insights into the challenges faced by the registry following its relocation to new premises. This visit aimed to assess both the obstacles and the progress made by the registry in light of its relocation to the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana House at Shiashie and the Institute of Local Governance Service at Madina in Accra.
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Digitalization Efforts and Relocation Impact
The BDR received support from UNICEF Ghana to digitize its early child registration process in 2009, enhancing its efficiency in managing records of infants up to 12 months. However, despite this digitalization effort, there are still over 24 million hardcopy records awaiting digitization. Moreover, the BDR faced operational challenges due to its former location in wooden structures near the sea in Accra. The recent relocation to better-equipped premises has enabled the registry to improve its administrative and ICT infrastructure, marking a significant step forward for the organization.
Strategic Partnerships and Enhancements
To enhance its operations, the BDR has formed strategic partnerships, including support from the World Bank, aimed at implementing key activities and public sector reforms to improve data harmonization and statistical accuracy. Efforts are underway to develop a website to facilitate digital access and to harmonize the various ICT systems, allowing integration with key agencies such as the National Identification Authority and the Ghana Health Service.
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Community Engagements and Data Recording
Recognizing the underreporting of deaths in many communities, the BDR has actively engaged with religious bodies, mortuaries, funeral facilities, and other stakeholders to encourage improved birth and death registrations. The emphasis on demanding proper death certification before burial serves as a vital step in strengthening the accuracy of vital statistics.
In conclusion, the financial limitations, digitalization efforts, strategic partnerships, and community engagements collectively highlight the multifaceted challenges and concerted efforts of the Births and Deaths Registry in Ghana. Efforts to address these issues will pave the way for improved operational efficiency and data accuracy.
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