Low registration of deaths in Western Region

Sekondi, Feb. 21, GNA - Mr Cephas Komla Honya, Western Regional Chief Registration Officer of the Department of Birth and Deaths, has said many deaths in the region were not officially reported and documented.

He said, consequently, the department did not know the exact number of people living and working in particular locations and the government did not have data to enable it determine the health needs of the various communities.

"Deaths resulting from particular types of illnesses and diseases could be easily detected and the appropriate health care provided," Mr Honya said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Sekondi on Friday.

He said many people were not registering their deaths either due to ignorance or sheer neglect.

Mr Honya said only 3,318 deaths were recorded in the entire region last year as compared to the number of births, which stood at 38,237. He said out of the figure, 1,886 were males while 1,432 were females.

A total of 593 parents registered their children during the free registration exercise organized by the Department last June, which coincided with the day of the African Child, while other personal registrations stood at 15,914.

Mr Honya reminded parents that it was their duty to ensure that their children were registered, and that it would guarantee their inheritance and enable them to participate in all national affairs as citizens.