Samuel Adom Botchway, Acting Registrar of Births and Deaths
A public survey by JoyNews has highlighted widespread frustration among Ghanaians over delays, difficulties correcting records and challenges verifying birth certificates through the Births and Deaths Registry.
The survey asked the public: “Birth certificate verification: What has your experience been? Have you tried verifying your birth certificate recently?”
Several respondents who reacted to the survey detailed difficulties they said they had encountered when accessing services from the Registry.
Although individual social-media comments cannot independently establish the overall performance of an institution, the accounts raise concerns about delays in the retrieval, correction, replacement and verification of vital records.
Experiences
One respondent, Samuel Setor Gasue, said problems involving his birth certificate had affected his visa applications. “My visa was refused 2 times just because of this birth certificate issue.”
Mr Gasue also complained that telephone numbers provided by the Registry were difficult to reach and said an email he sent had remained unanswered for about a year.
Another respondent, Alexander Ntim Dwomoh, described a lengthy wait after applying for birth certificates for his twins in 2024. He said the certificates were issued with an error and were subsequently returned for correction.
“I have followed it up for over 2 years now and I’m tired,” he said.
Kofi Ewuah said his birth certificate went missing in 2022 and that his attempts to obtain a replacement had not been successful.
Asamoah Boadu Kwaku said he had applied and paid for birth certificates for his two sons in October of the previous year but was still waiting to receive them.
More frustration
Similarly, Goku Prosper said he had applied and paid for certificates for his children in June of the previous year but had yet to receive them.
For Daleku Nyuiemedi, the experience was also difficult, with the respondent saying the process took an entire month.
The correction of errors was another recurring concern in the responses.
Araedey Ajetey wrote: “Correcting mistake on the cert is even an issue now verification.”
Responding to her, Iddrisu Sumani described errors associated with the process as “mind boggling.”
Another commenter said the prospect of lengthy delays had discouraged him from proceeding with an application after witnessing another applicant complain at a Registry office.
Concerns are significant
The concerns are significant because birth records are foundational identity documents. They can be required for processes involving passports, citizenship, immigration, education, inheritance and other official transactions.
The Births and Deaths Registry is responsible for the registration and management of vital events, including births and deaths, as well as the issuance of certified copies and verification and authentication of certificates for institutions, including foreign missions.
Some respondents also made allegations of unofficial payments.
Joshua Freeman Osator alleged that applicants could be asked to make payments without receiving receipts and complained that obtaining a certificate could subsequently take several months.
Gloria Gyekyewaa Amoah separately alleged that some officers demand additional, unauthorised payments from service users before providing services, and claimed that those who refuse could face delays.
She called for intervention by the authorities responsible for supervising the Registry.
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