Responses to Information Requests

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

Information in this Response was provided by a Principal Registration Officer at Ghana's Birth and Death Registry (BDR) in a telephone interview on 29 September 2017 and in email correspondence with the Research Directorate on 4 October 2017. According to the information available on the Online Services Portal of the Government of Ghana, the BDR "exists to provide accurate, reliable and timely information of all births and deaths occurring within Ghana for the [s]ocio-economic development of the country through their registration and certification" (Ghana n.d.).

1. Certified Copy of Entry into Registry of Births
1.1 Line Break in the "Child's Name" Field

According to the Principal Registration Officer, the BDR introduced computer-generated Certified Copies of Entry into Registry of Births (certificates) in May 2009. The forms on which the line in the instructions included in the "Child's Name" field breaks after the words "Write first names" [sample attached to the Response to Information Request GHA105228 of 15 July 2015] were "the very first templates" used by the BDR. Without being able to confirm when these templates where removed from circulation, the Principal Registration Officer stated that they are currently not in use. Two samples of the current certificates, which were provided by the Principal Registration Officer, are attached to this Response (Attachments 1 and 2).

There are no regional variations in the appearance of the certificate. All certificates issued as of 2009 are computer-generated. Certificates issued before 2009 might have been hand-written.

1.2 Certificate Number and Entry Number

The certificate number is located at the top left corner of the certificate and is different on each printed copy of the certificate for the same registration. It can begin with different letters, depending on the printer. The entry number, which is located at the top right corner, is unique to every registration and remains the same on all copies. Each applicant is authorized to receive less than five copies of the certificate for one registration, the certificate number will differ on each of the copies, while the entry number will remain the same. The Principal Registration Officer further explained, using as an example the entry number "020106-6938-1954," which appears on the certificate attached to the Response to Information Request GHA105228 of July 2015, that the number is composed of the following elements:

• 020106 - indicates the region, district and the registry where the birth was registered;
• 6938 - is a unique number tied to that registration;
• 1954 - indicates the year of registration.

1.3 Hologram

The Principal Registration Officer explained, in regard to the sample issued on 21 July 2009, which is attached to the Response to Information Request GHA105228 of July 2015, that when the BDR was beginning to issue computer-generated certificates, it was using a hologram sticker and the serial number of the hologram matched the certificate number. This hologram feature was changed sometime in 2013 and the current form is a hologram foil that is embedded in the certificate. The hologram foil is supposed to be placed in the same location on all certificates, between the "Father" and the "Mother" fields. However, due to the fact that the foils are placed by a machine, the exact placement may vary on each certificate. The hologram number on the current version of the certificates no longer matches the certificate number.

1.4 Signatures

There are three signatories whose signatures may appear on the certificates. The list of the authorised officials, including specimens of their signatures, is attached to this Response (Attachment 3).

1.5 Margin

Without providing further details, the Principal Registration Officer explained that the "Margin" field is reserved for "official comments" and includes information on the "type of service," for example, to mark a change in records, or an adoption.

2. Infant Birth Certificate

The Principal Registration Officer provided a copy of a birth certificate that is specifically issued to children up to 12 months old, a sample of which is attached to this Response (Attachment 4). The birth certificates issued to infants are hand-written.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Ghana. 4 October 2017. Birth and Death Registry (BDR). Correspondence with a Principal Registration Officer to the Research Directorate.

Ghana. 29 September 2017. Birth and Death Registry (BDR). Telephone interview with a Principal Registration Officer.

Ghana. N.d. Online Services Portal of the Government of Ghana. "Welcome to the Births and Deaths Registry (BDR)." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2017]

Attachments

1. Ghana. 31 August 2017. Birth and Death Registry (BDR). Sample of a Certified Copy of Entry into Registry of Births. Sent to the Research Directorate by a Principal Registration Officer, Birth and Death Registry, 4 October 2017.
2. Ghana. 29 July 2011. Birth and Death Registry (BDR). Sample of a Certified Copy of Entry into Registry of Births. Sent to the Research Directorate by a Principal Registration Officer, Birth and Death Registry, 4 October 2017.
3. Ghana. 17 March 2017. Birth and Death Registry (BDR). Addition of Specimen Signatures of Officers Authorised to Sign Birth and Death Certificates. Sent to the Research Directorate by a Principal Registration Officer, Birth and Death Registry, 4 October 2017.
4. Ghana. N.d. Birth and Death Registry (BDR). "Birth Certificate [Birth Certificate Form R]." Sent to the Research Directorate by a Principal Registration Officer, Birth and Death Registry, 4 October 2017.