Don`t register aliens -Tema Mantse

The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku II, has called on staff of the Births and Deaths Registries throughout the country, to desist from the act of registering people who are not bonafide citizens of this country.

According to him, it was mandatory for every baby born on the soil of this country, to be registered under the domain of the Births and Deaths Registry, for the purpose of proper record-keeping.

He said this in the wake of reports of foreigners coming into the country to acquire birth certificates, which they use to go in for Ghanaian passports, which is not legal, as they were not born here.

Speaking at the Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebrations of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly's (TMA) Births and Deaths Registry, in Tema last Wednesday, he appealed to residents of the Metropolis, to participate in the registration of their children right at birth, and also in the registration of a deceased upon death.

The Tema Mantse disclosed that the acquisition of a birth certificate was a very vital one, as its possession would offer one easy access into schools, work places, and also the acquisition of a passport and voters' identification cards, among others.

He appealed to the government to provide the Births and Deaths Registries with comfortable offices, well-furnished and spacious enough to accommodate both the staff and the public.

The Tema Metropolitan Director of the Births and Deaths Registry, Madam Hannah Twumasi Ankrah, disclosed that, that was the first time a Registry in any district, municipality or metropolis in the country, was celebrating its anniversary, since its establishment on October 15, 1958.

Madam Hannah Twumasi stated the first child to be registered, was also the first death to be registered.

The Tema Metro Director called on all parents, to register their children at birth, since it was only through this exercise that the identity and nationality of the child could be established.

She urged the public, both the young and old, to participate in the registration process, as it would enable the state to know the number of people in a particular district, and hence assist in the provision of social amenities.

She expressed her gratitude to Mr. Danquah, Managing Director of Jatokrom in Tema, for providing the Registry with a comfortable fully-furnished office.

Mr. Stephen Amoah, Registrar of Births and Deaths, noted that the Registry was now going to adopt the principle of active registration, by moving to homes, market places, offices, schools, and other social gatherings, to register people.

He disclosed that registration was free for all children under 12 months, and also free for deceased persons within seven days after death, adding, “The acquisition of a birth certificate is a simple task.”

The Mayor of Tema, David Annang, called on Ghanaians to partake in the Births and Deaths exercise, since it was a law in the country, and “This law is getting outmoded, and so there is the need to renew it.”

He explained that Parliament must seek to renew the portion of this law, so that newly-born babies were allowed to go home, and come back later to be registered, and also where the deceased are allowed to be buried before registering.