Processes have begun to transfer staff of the Births and Deaths Registry from the Civil Service to the Local Government Service.

The move is to ensure the full operationalisation of the department at the decentralised level following the recent amendment of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 2020 (Act 1027), to enable the Registry function as departments of the District Assemblies and for staff to similarly migrate from the Civil Service to the LGS.

The Head of the Local Government Service, Ing. Dr. Nana Ato Arthur disclosed this at the ongoing refresher course for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) from the Greater Accra, Volta and Oti Regions in Ho.

He noted that the integration of the Births and Deaths Registry into the departments of the MMDAs is to promote effective and efficient registration of births and death at the local level; and to ensure the dramatic transformation of births and deaths registration in the country.

He further added that the transfer is a significant milestone in the national quest towards full decentralization and also shows government’s commitment to accelerate the pace of decentralisation.

He urged staff to embrace the process with enthusiasm and optimism.

The refresher course among other things is aimed to ensure that the MMDCES share their experiences for feedback; deepen their understanding on local governance, leadership and management as well as requirements for managing their respective local governments to achieve efficiency, value for money, social justice and inclusivity.