Ghana’s first comprehensive statistical report on deaths, released by the Births and Deaths Registry, reveals a striking gender disparity in mortality: 10 out of the 11 leading causes of death in the country claim more men lives than women.
According to the 2022 data, males were significantly more affected by ten of the top eleven causes of death in the country, with cancer being the only major killer that claimed more female lives than male ones.
The top causes of death in men is hypertension-related diseases—took a notably higher toll on men, with about 500 more male fatalities than female.
Pneumonia and heart failure followed closely, with 400 and 600 more deaths among men respectively.
The gender breakdown of deaths by major causes includes Hypertension-related deaths, which were recorded at 1,539 for males compared to 1,034 for females.
Pneumonia followed with 1,440 male deaths versus 1,017 female deaths.
Heart failure claimed 1,347 male lives and 879 female lives, while acute respiratory failure accounted for 1,162 male deaths and 1,041 female deaths.
Stroke fatalities numbered 1,029 among males and 650 among females.
Septic shock led to 844 deaths in males and 556 in females.
Severe sepsis also showed a male majority, with 817 deaths compared to 741 for females.
Diabetes-related deaths were 812 for males and 766 for females.
Chronic liver disease showed one of the widest gaps, with 803 male deaths compared to just 300 female deaths. Cerebrovascular diseases recorded 519 male deaths and 357 female deaths.
The only major condition where females outnumbered males was cancer, with 566 deaths among females compared to 470 among males.
The overall findings showed that 60.3% of the 50,992 registered deaths in 2022 were male, pointing to a broader pattern of male vulnerability in Ghana’s health outcomes.
Elderly and adults most affected by top killers
The report disaggregated data by age, identifying the elderly as the most affected demographic in five of the top conditions: pneumonia (56%), severe sepsis (52.0%), cerebrovascular diseases (59.0%), heart failure (50.0%), and cancer (49.0%). Among adults, chronic liver disease dominated, accounting for a staggering 72.0% of deaths from that cause. Diabetes and septic shock also appeared prominently among adult deaths, each affecting around half of cases in their category.
Stroke, meanwhile, was widely reported in both the adult and elderly populations, indicating its prevalence across the aging spectrum.
More Ghanaians dying at home
One of the most alarming findings of the report was the number of people dying outside healthcare facilities.
Of the 50,992 deaths registered in 2022, 16,081 occurred at home—more than those recorded in clinics (1,153) and maternity homes (371) combined.
An additional 2,500 deaths happened in other unspecified locations such as farms, roadside areas, and water bodies.
These figures underscore the severe gaps in healthcare accessibility, especially for critical and emergency services in remote or underserved areas.
They also highlight the need for improvements in emergency response systems and home healthcare support.
Regions that account for most deaths
Approximately 70% of all registered deaths were concentrated in just three regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern.
These regions, with denser populations and more developed registration systems, not only reported the highest number of deaths but also outperformed national registration averages.
Greater Accra, in particular, surpassed its expected coverage rate by 8.3%, while the Eastern Region recorded 53.6%, Ashanti 46.7%, and Bono Region 43.8%—all well above the national average of 37.8%.
Monthly trends
The distribution of registered deaths across the months of 2022 remained relatively steady, with minor fluctuations. March recorded the highest number of deaths at 4,810, followed closely by January (4,721) and October (4,673).
The month with the lowest recorded deaths was May, with 3,667 fatalities.
This monthly spread reflects consistent mortality rates throughout the year, potentially driven by non-seasonal, chronic health conditions rather than acute, epidemic-related outbreaks.
Legal framework and purpose of the report
The 2022 Statistical Report on Deaths Registration was prepared under the authority of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 2020 (Act 1027).
The Act mandates the comprehensive recording of births, deaths, and fetal deaths in Ghana and has decentralized the Registry’s operations to enhance data coverage and accuracy across the country.
The aim of the report is to provide critical, evidence-based insights to support public policy, health planning, and national development strategies.
By identifying patterns in mortality, the data is expected to guide interventions and inform better health outcomes.
Implications for national health planning
Accurate and timely death registration is not just a bureaucratic formality—it is a cornerstone of national planning and governance.
The data from the 2022 report allows stakeholders to track disease prevalence, measure the effectiveness of public health interventions, and allocate resources more efficiently.
For instance, the male-dominated mortality in major causes of death suggests a need for targeted interventions aimed at men’s health education, early screening, and preventive care.
Moreover, understanding the geography of mortality and the challenges posed by home and location-unknown deaths will inform infrastructure investments in emergency response systems and rural healthcare access.
Beyond national planning, the Registry reminds the public of the personal importance of registering deaths.
Legal documentation of death is required for handling estates, claiming pensions or insurance, and resolving legal or financial matters concerning the deceased.
With 97.5% of registered deaths involving Ghanaian nationals and 81.0% of them resulting in burials at public cemeteries, the system remains an essential part of both cultural practice and legal process in the country.
This inaugural statistical report marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s commitment to data-driven governance.
By bringing transparency to mortality trends and healthcare accessibility, the Births and Deaths Registry provides not only a clearer picture of how and where Ghanaians are dying, but also a roadmap to ensure more of them live longer, healthier lives.
