Public Sector Reform Minister Undertakes Working Visit to Births & Deaths Registry, Calls for Collaborative Support to Boost Service Delivery
The Minister of State in charge of Public Sector Reforms, Hon. Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, has undertaken a working visit to the Births and Deaths Registry in Accra to familiarize herself with its operations and identify areas requiring reform and institutional support.
Addressing management and staff of the Registry during the visit, Hon. Akanvariba emphasized the importance of the institution to national development and service delivery, describing it as a vital pillar in Ghana’s public sector reform agenda.
“This is not just a visit. It is an opportunity for us to understand your operations, challenges, and how we can work together to ensure efficient and effective service delivery to the Ghanaian people,” she said.
She acknowledged the Registry’s progress over the past five years under the Public Sector Reform for Results Project (PSRRP), particularly in improving efficiency, accountability, and citizen engagement.
The Minister further stated that the Registry plays a critical role in national planning and development, noting that accurate records of births and deaths guide public health, infrastructure, and education policies.
The Minister stressed the need for the Registry to identify practical reforms that would enhance operations, including improvements in death notification systems, visibility studies, and the strategic use of cemetery entry points to boost registration of deaths.
“We need to open up conversations about how we can register deaths more effectively—especially in areas like cemeteries, hospitals, and within communities. Births and deaths data help us plan. It’s a key area and must not be overlooked,” she said.
Hon. Akanvariba appealed to donor partners to support the second phase of the reform project and noted that logistics and capacity building remained essential to the Registry’s success.
She proposed stronger partnerships with health institutions, especially in Muslim-dominated areas where registration compliance is often low.
She suggested that midwives be empowered to assign unique numbers to newborns at birth to facilitate seamless integration into the national database system for immediate registration.
The Acting Registrar of Births and Deaths, Mr. Samuel Adom Botchway, expressed appreciation for the Minister’s visit, describing it as a morale booster.
He lauded the staff for their dedication despite operational constraints and assured the Minister of their commitment to delivering quality services.
On his part, the Head of Projects, Mr. Emmanuel Nortey Botchway, highlighted gains made under the PSRRP since 2019, including the deployment of a central digital database, improved stakeholder collaboration, and public education campaigns to enhance registration coverage.
Mr. Botchway revealed that Memorandums of Understanding have been signed with religious and traditional bodies to serve as intermediaries in increasing registration rates at the community level.
He noted that the registry now operates a harmonized maternal and child health registration process in 261 districts, helping to reduce the registration gap.
However, he called for increased advocacy, training, and sensitization to sustain the gains made.
The Minister concluded by reaffirming government’s commitment to supporting the Registry and encouraged continuous innovation, cooperation, and accountability in service delivery.
By: Prosper AGBENYEGA
