The Births and Deaths Registry has the general responsibility of handling and developing the Births and Deaths Registration System in the country.

It was established by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1965 (Act301) in response to the realization of the important uses to which population statistics generated on a continuous and permanent basis could be put. These include administrative, demographic estimates, research and socio-economic planning purposes.

The Registry is one of the three departments under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment.

The Births and Deaths Registry exists to provide accurate and reliable information on all births and deaths occurring within Ghana for socio-economic development ofthe country through their registration and certification.

In accordance with the provision in the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1965, activities of the Vital Registration System are coordinated from a national headquarters, referred to as the Central Registry Office.

The entire country has been divided into Registration Regions, which coincide with the political and administrative regions of the country. There are therefore 10 Regional Registration Offices located in the Regional Capitals.

The Registry has offices in all 138 districts. Under the District Offices is a network of local Registration Offices, 391 in all, located in various towns and communities across the length and breadth of the country.