Computerization of the Registration System

The Births and Deaths Registry has embarked on the computerization of its operations.

An IBM AS-400 server has been installed and linked to an initial number of 10 workstations at the Head office. In January 2000, data entry personnel were appointed and trained to key-in records on registered births and deaths occurring in the country.

Within the next 3 years (medium term), it is expected to equip all the ten Regional Offices wit.h computers that will be networked to the Central Registry.

The long-term vision is to get computers to all the 138 district registration offices, in order to facilitate the transfer of records of registered births (and deaths) expressly from the district to the Central Registry Office in Accra for processing and analysis.

Registration and computerization and storage of information are needed at all levels to facilitate development through the system of local government. This way, local and central government systems can plan for children simultaneously.

Between 2001 and 2002, UNICEF donated 5 computers to the registry to facilitate this process.

The registrar in charge of vital statistics in the city of Amsterdam was in the country in March of2004 to meet with representatives of the Births and Deaths Registry and UNICEF on the possibility of extending support of the Dutch government in the area of computerization of the Registry. A proposal for assistance has been submitted and the support is expected to materialize any time soon.

Expansion of Partnerships
The United Nations Statistics Division in conjunction with the Ghana Statistical Service organized a workshop on "Improving Fertility, Mortality and Disability Statistics in Africa" from 14-18 June 2004. One major recommendation of this workshop was the need to strengthen the civil registration systems in various African countries, including Ghana.

As a follow-up to this workshop, the Ghana Statistical Service, and the Births and Deaths Registry in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Finance, convened a two-day meeting of stakeholders from 21-22 June 2004 to outline a strategy for improving births and deaths registration coverage.

The meeting succeeded in bringing to the notice of the various stakeholders the need to collaborate and cooperate with the Births and Deaths Registry in order to achieve universal registration of births and deaths.