Ghana Civil Registration

Online Records

 * 1863-2003 - — images, for Accra only
 * Mostly 1950-2005 - British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, Ghana, index and images, ($)
 * 1881-1994 - British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, index and images, ($)
 * 1796-2005 - British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, index and 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 Website: http://praad.gov.gh/index.php/national-archives/ 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

SEE UNICEF Ghana

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

Research use: Excellent for family and relationship linkage. A primary source.

Record type:Births, marriages, deaths, for Europeans and Africans.

Time period: 1872 to present.

SEE History of the National Archives

SEE Wikipedia, National Archives of Ghana

SEE UNICEF Ghana

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%.

Births

 * Name of person
 * Birth date
 * Parent’s names
 * Father’s occupation and residence
 * Sometimes mother’s age
 * Witnesses’ names, residence, occupation, and sometimes relationship

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

Marriages

 * Names of candidates
 * Their residences
 * Marriage date
 * Sometimes parents’ or sponsors’ names and ages

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

Information:
 * Date of occurrence
 * Date of registration
 * Place of occurrence
 * Place of registration
 * Date of birth or age of bride
 * Date of birth or age of groom

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

 * Name of deceased
 * Death and burial dates
 * Age
 * Residence at time of death
 * Occupation
 * Cause of death

Reliability: Excellent. Recognized as official records.