CRC Concluding Observations: Ghana, 2006
Published: 17/Mar/2006
Source: UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
CRC/C/GHA/CO/2
Committee on the Rights of the Child Forty-first session Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 44 of the Convention
Concluding observations: Ghana
Birth registration
32. Notwithstanding the remarkable progress achieved in improving birth registration coverage from 28 per cent in 2003 to 51 per cent in 2004, including through the extensive use of mobile registration units, the Committee remains concerned about the many challenges faced by the State party such as poor staffing, inadequate funding and lack of logistics. The Committee is further concerned about the difficulties in ensuring the birth registration of children, particularly in rural areas, and for abandoned children, asylum-seekers and refugee children.
33. In light of article 7 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party implement an efficient birth registration system, which covers its territory fully, including through:
(a) Strengthening its efforts in terms of financial allocations and improved institutional capacities;
(b) Taking appropriate measures to register those who have not been registered at birth;
(c) Strengthening the cooperation of the Births and Deaths Registry between the local government and community based institutions;
(d) Increasing the appreciation of the importance of birth registration and providing information on the procedure of birth registration, including the rights and entitlements derived from the registration, to the public, including through television, radio and printed materials; and
(e) Paying particular attention to the improved access to an early birth registration system by abandoned children, asylum-seekers and refugee children.
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