Ada East residents raise concerns over delays in birth certificate processing despite paying additional fees

Some residents of the Ada East District have expressed concern over delays in receiving their birth certificates, despite paying additional fees for what they described as expedited processing services.

The residents said they were allegedly charged amounts ranging from GH¢300 to GH¢500, with the assurance that their certificates would be processed faster than the standard one-month period.

However, they stated that obtaining the certificates remained a challenge, with some applicants waiting six months, one year, and, in some cases, two years, and, in some cases, two years despite making additional payments.

Some of the residents, including students, said they had made several attempts to obtain their certificates but were unsuccessful.

They alleged that the office was sometimes locked when they visited, while the director occasionally failed to answer their calls when they sought updates on their applications.

Mr Michael Otu, a resident of Togbloku, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he registered his son two years ago but was yet to receive the certificate.

When contacted by the GNA, Mr David B. Bortey, Ada East District Director of the Births and Deaths Registry, said the additional charges were for express services intended to enable applicants to receive their certificates earlier than the stipulated period.

Mr Bortey said that due to a shortage of paper for printing physical copies, the office sometimes provided applicants with electronic copies of their certificates.

According to him, the shortage of printing materials sometimes delayed the process, adding that he had been explaining the challenges to applicants.

He said the department was considering discontinuing the express service because it was creating considerable challenges for him and his officers.

Mr Bortey also disclosed that in August 2025, Madam Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe assisted about 150 residents to obtain birth certificates free of charge, but the beneficiaries had not collected them and the certificates remained at his office.

GNA