Ghana has taken a major step toward strengthening its legal identity systems and improving access to essential services with the opening of a national validation workshop for the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Strategic Plan for 2025–2030.
Speaking at the event held at the Royal Lee’s Hotel in Aburi, Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, emphasised the importance of CRVS not just as a recordkeeping tool, but as the foundation for inclusive development, human rights, and evidence-based policymaking.
“This gathering affirms our national commitment to building a robust, inclusive, and fully integrated CRVS system that leaves no one behind,” she said.
The new strategic plan aims to improve birth and death registration coverage across the country. While birth registration has increased to 76.7% in 2024, death registration remains low at 35.3%, hindered by cultural barriers, limited public awareness, and weak enforcement.
Hon. Sowah outlined key priorities of the 2025–2030 Plan, including:
Modernisation of digital infrastructure
Expansion of mobile registration in underserved areas
Improved inter-agency collaboration and data sharing
Capacity building for local government actors
Enforcement of legal mandates and behavioural change campaigns
She praised the Births and Deaths Registry for its leadership and acknowledged the strong support from development partners such as UNECA, UNICEF, and UNFPA. The plan aligns with Ghana’s Vision 2057, targeting 100% birth registration and 95% death registration by the country’s centenary.
The Deputy Minister urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to play an active role in implementing the plan through data collection, mobilisation, and resource allocation.
Reaffirming government’s commitment, Hon. Sowah assured stakeholders that Ghana will continue to invest in ICT, legal reforms, and system interoperability to transform CRVS into a powerful tool for national development.
She officially opened the workshop, calling on all participants to use their expertise to validate a strategic plan that reflects the true needs and aspirations of the Ghanaian people.
