Thousands of frustrated Ghanaians can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the Births and Deaths Registry resumes issuing birth certificates after a two-month suspension caused by a shortage of specialised security paper.
The printing delay had left many stranded across the country.
But in Parliament this week, Minister for Local Government Ahmed Ibrahim confirmed that the necessary paper has been delivered, and distribution to all regional offices is underway.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the public that appropriate measures have been instituted to restore uninterrupted service delivery,” he said.
The minister explained that the delay stemmed from procurement lapses, even though the acting registrar had flagged the risk of running out of stock as early as March 2025.
A request was made to the Comptroller and Accountant General on April 3, with follow-ups before the first batch finally arrived on July 9.
The special paper contains advanced security features such as thermochromic ink, watermarks, and micro text lines—designed to prevent forgery and ensure the integrity of vital records.
To avoid future setbacks, the Registry has introduced an early warning stock monitoring system and committed to timely procurement in collaboration with the Comptroller and Accountant General’s Department.
