Ghana Civil Registration

Online Records

 * 1863-2003 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Mostly 1950-2005 British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, Ghana, index & images ($)
 * 1881-1994 British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, index & images ($)
 * 1796-2005 British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, index & images ($)

Offices to Contact
National Archives of Ghana 21 Castle Road Adjacent YWCA, Adabraka P.O.Box GP 3056 Accra, Ghana GA Address GH-GA-050-7200

Regional offices:

Some civil registration records are also in: The National Archives, London Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU United Kingdom Contact form (in lieu of email): web form Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8876 3444 Website: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Additional information: National Archives

Historical Background
The efforts to create an archive started in 1946 and the first Ghanaian chief archivist was J. M. Akita in 1949.

The National Archives has births, marriages, and deaths for Europeans and Africans from 1872 to present.

For additional information, see History of the National Archives.

Coverage and Compliance
Population coverage: Approximately 80% of the population, but only after ca. 1930. Before that, 40% of the population. British population:60%, native population: 40%.

Information Recorded in the Records
For additional information about birth, marriage, and death registration in Ghana, see UNICEF Data: Monitoring the situation of children and women.

Births
Information:

Regarding the child:
 * Name
 * Date of birth
 * Sex
 * Place of occurrence [of the birth]
 * Type of place of occurrence (hospital, home, etc.)
 * Date of registration
 * Place of registration
 * Attendant at birth
 * Type of birth (single, twin, triplet and so forth)

Regarding the mother of the child
 * Date of birth or age
 * Educational attainment
 * Place of usual residence
 * Children born alive to the mother during her entire lifetime
 * Birth order parity
 * Maiden name
 * Nationality

Regarding the father of the child:
 * Date of birth or age of the father
 * Educational attainment
 * Nationality
 * Occupation (whether gainfully employed)
 * Religion


 * Witnesses’ names, residence, occupation, and sometimes relationship

Marriages
The legal age for marriage is 21 years old for both sexes. Marriage between ages 18 and 21 requires parents’ consent.

Information:


 * Names of candidates
 * Their residences
 * Date of marriage
 * Date of registration
 * Place of marriage
 * Place of registration
 * Date of birth or age of bride
 * Date of birth or age of groom
 * Sometimes parents’ or sponsors’ names and ages

Generally, for all the three types of marriage (customary, Mohamedan, and ordinance), the requirement is that men and women aged 18 years and above, who are not closely related by blood or through marriage, can lawfully enter into a marriage provided that other laws in force do not prohibit the relationship. The parties to an intended marriage identify themselves with a national ID; either one or both parties must have resided in the district of registration for at least 15 days prior to the registration of the marriage.

Deaths
Information:
 * Name of deceased
 * Sex
 * Date of birth or age
 * Marital status
 * Place of usual residence
 * Parents’ place of residence for deceased persons below age 15 years
 * Date of death
 * Place of death
 * Type of place (hospital, home, etc.)
 * Date of registration
 * Place of registration
 * Cause of death
 * Certifier