The 2022 Statistical Report on birth registration has shed light on several key aspects of Ghana’s demographic landscape.
Among the findings, it was revealed that out of all registered births, 0.3 per cent (2,099 cases) presented doubtful paternity, indicating situations where the father’s identity was uncertain.
The report, which covers 261 districts of the 16 administrative regions, forms part of the Births and Deaths Registry’s commitment to providing accurate and reliable information on births and deaths to support informed decision-making, public policy formulation and national development.
The Upper East Region showed the highest percentage (0.8%) of such cases, followed by the Central Region (0.7%), Western, Eastern, and Volta regions (0.5%).
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Interestingly, nearly all registered births (99.9%) in the Upper West, Bono East, Ashanti, Savannah, Northern, and North East regions had known paternity, with fathers identified.
The report also highlighted that almost all mothers (99.96%) registering their infants’ births had some level of formal education.
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Notably, 52% of all registered births were by mothers with secondary, vocational, or technical education, while 14% attended only primary school, and 9.7% attended tertiary institutions.
The Greater Accra Region stood out with the highest percentage (20.1%) of mothers having tertiary education.
Regarding age distribution, approximately 27.0% of registered infants were born to mothers aged 25-29, followed by those aged 30-34 (23.3%), and 20-24 (22%).
Mothers below 15 years recorded the least births (0.1%), while those aged 40 and above accounted for 5.4% of births.
The Birth and Death Registry recorded 677,140 births and 50,992 deaths in 2022
A significant majority of deaths occurred in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, or Eastern regions, with males accounting for six out of every ten registered deaths.
Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti, and Bono regions exceeded the national average of registered deaths, indicating disproportionately higher figures.
At the launch, the Acting Registrar, Ms Henrietta Lamptey, highlighted the significance of the report, stating that it is paramount in providing information for policy development.
“This report is crucial in providing reliable information for public policy development and socio-economic planning,” She said, emphasizing the importance of accurate data in informing decision-making and driving progress.
The report reflects the registry’s commitment to universal coverage of birth and death registration, with initiatives such as the Community Population Register and digitization of registration processes
Deputy Minister of the Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development, Osei-Bonsu Amoah, emphasized the significance of the report towards improving livelihood outcomes.
“This report is a vital tool for Ghana’s socio-economic development, and we are pleased to see the progress made in birth registration rates,” he said.
He commended the substantial increase in birth registration, attributing it to the government’s well-planned efforts.
“The significant increase in birth registration rates is a testament to the government’s commitment to achieving universal birth registration and sustainable development goals,” he added.
Amoah highlighted the importance of birth registration, noting that it is crucial for ensuring access to essential services, social protection, and citizenship rights. He encouraged stakeholders to continue working together to address the remaining challenges and achieve universal birth registration in Ghana.
By acknowledging the progress made and emphasizing the need for continued efforts, Amoah underscored the government’s dedication to leveraging data and statistics to drive development and improve the lives of Ghanaians.
This progress signifies Ghana’s commitment to ensuring every child is registered and accounted for.
