Counting every Ghanaian: How digitalising Births and Deaths fuels Ghana’s inclusive future

In a rapidly evolving world, the ability of a nation to accurately identify and account for its people is paramount.

For Ghana, the celebration of Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day on August 10th this year resonated deeply with ongoing national efforts.

Under the theme ‘Strengthening the linkage of civil registration and vital statistics to legal identity systems through digitalisation for enhanced inclusion’, Ghana is actively leveraging technology to ensure that every birth and death is recorded and that this vital data seamlessly connects to the national legal identity framework, primarily through the ubiquitous Ghana Card.

For decades, like many nations across the continent, Ghana faced significant challenges in maintaining a comprehensive and reliable CRVS system.

Paper-based processes were cumbersome, particularly in remote areas, leading to under-registration of births and deaths.

This not only rendered individuals ‘invisible’ in the eyes of the state but also hampered national development planning due to a lack of accurate demographic data.

However, a renewed focus, coupled with strategic investments in digitalisation, is paving the way for a more inclusive and efficient system, with the Ghana Card at its centre.

The Ghana Card, a biometric national identification card issued by the National Identification Authority (NIA), has become a cornerstone of Ghana’s drive towards a formal and inclusive society.

Its mandatory use for accessing a wide range of services, from banking and SIM card registration to social welfare programmes and voting, underscores its importance in the daily lives of Ghanaians.

Recognising the foundational nature of birth registration in establishing legal identity, the government has since 2017 embarked on a crucial mission: to forge an unbreakable link between the Births and Deaths Registry (BDR) and the NIA’s systems.

At the heart of this linkage lies digitisation. The Births and Deaths Registry is actively transitioning from manual, paper-based records to a digital platform.

This modernisation is not merely about convenience; it is a fundamental shift that promises to revolutionise how vital events are recorded and utilised. Digital registration makes the process faster, more accurate, and less susceptible to data loss or manipulation.

It also opens up possibilities for real-time data sharing and interoperability with other key national databases, most notably that of the NIA.

The envisioned synergy works as follows: upon the registration of a birth, the BDR assigns a unique identification number.

This foundational information is then securely transmitted to the NIA, forming the basis for the individual’s record within the national identity database.

As the individual grows and applies for the Ghana Card, the information originating from their birth registration is verified, creating a strong and auditable chain of identity.

Similarly, the digital registration of deaths provides crucial demographic data for planning and resource allocation, while also helping to prevent identity fraud.

The benefits of this integrated and digitalised system for enhanced inclusion are manifold. For children born in remote communities, digital registration, potentially facilitated through mobile applications, eliminates the often prohibitive barriers of distance and cost associated with travelling to registration centres.

This ensures that even the most marginalised populations are counted from birth, granting them the fundamental right to a legal identity.

With a birth certificate, and subsequently a Ghana Card, citizens gain access to a plethora of opportunities and protections. Children can enrol in school without hindrance, access healthcare services, and are shielded from vulnerabilities such as child marriage and labour.

As they mature, the Ghana Card empowers them to participate fully in the economy, access financial services, and exercise their civic rights.

For the government, a robust and accurate CRVS system linked to legal identity provides invaluable data for evidence-based policy formulation, targeted social interventions, and efficient resource allocation.

Knowing the precise demographics of the population allows for better planning in areas such as education, healthcare infrastructure, and employment creation.

However, the journey towards a fully digitalised and integrated CRVS and legal identity system is not without its challenges.

Sustained financial investment is crucial to expand digital infrastructure to every corner of the country, ensuring reliable internet connectivity and access to necessary hardware and software.

Continuous training and capacity building for registration officials are essential to manage the new digital systems effectively.

Furthermore, public awareness campaigns are needed to educate citizens about the importance of registering births and deaths and the benefits of the Ghana Card.

Addressing potential data privacy concerns and ensuring the security of the digital systems are also paramount to maintain public trust.

Despite these challenges, Ghana’s commitment to leveraging digitalisation to strengthen the linkage between CRVS and legal identity systems through the Ghana Card is a commendable step towards a more inclusive future.

By prioritising the accurate and timely registration of all births and deaths and seamlessly connecting this data to the national identity framework, Ghana is not only fulfilling a fundamental human right but also laying a solid foundation for sustainable development and good governance.

As the nation continues to invest in and refine these digital systems, the vision of a Ghana where every citizen is counted and empowered by their legal identity is steadily becoming a reality.

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Written by: Henrietta Lamptey, CRVS Expert and former Registrar of the Births and Deaths Registry, Ghana and Yvonne Boatemaa-Yeboah, CRVS Mentor