The inaugural statistical report by the Births and Deaths Registry reveals that in 2022, four out of every ten registered Ghanaians died outside health facilities
This emphasizes the challenges associated with inadequate healthcare infrastructure in Ghana.
The report shows that 50,992 registered deaths were recorded in 2022, comprising 27,907 males and 23,085 females.
Home deaths alarmingly high
Out of the total registered deaths, 30,887 occurred in hospitals, 1,153 in clinics, and 371 in maternity homes.
Alarmingly, 16,081 people died at home while 2,500 died in other unspecified locations, highlighting issues of access and emergency healthcare.
Monthly breakdown of registered deaths
The monthly distribution of registered deaths was as follows: January – 4,721, February – 4,330, March – 4,810, April – 3,778, May – 3,667, June – 3,733, July – 4,218, August – 4,442, September – 4,263, October – 4,673, November – 4,664, and December – 3,693.
Regional disparities in death registration
There was a notable concentration of registered deaths in some regions.
Approximately seven out of every ten registered deaths occurred in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, or Eastern regions.
The report also found that 60.3% of all registered deaths were male.
Furthermore, about nine out of every ten registered deaths resulted in burials in public cemeteries, indicating the dominance of formal burial systems in Ghana.
Regions that surpassed national averages
The statistical outcome also highlighted regional disparities in registration rates.
Greater Accra Region exceeded its expected coverage by 8.3%, while Eastern (53.6%), Ashanti (46.7%), and Bono (43.8%) Regions recorded rates far above the national average of 37.8 percent.
Deaths by gender and place
Males accounted for a larger proportion of registered deaths at 60.3%.
Additionally, 4.9% of all registered deaths occurred in locations such as farms, roadsides, or water bodies.
This reflects under-documented emergencies and accidental deaths in rural or informal settings.
The majority (81.0%) of registered deaths were buried in public cemeteries, and 97.5% were Ghanaian nationals.
Gender differences in causes of death
The data further shows that males are more vulnerable to ten of the top eleven causes of death, with cancer being the only exception.
Hypertension-related diseases ranked as the leading cause of death, killing about 500 more males than females.
Pneumonia and heart failure also claimed more male lives, with 400 and 600 more deaths respectively compared to females.
Age-specific causes of death
Adults and the elderly were most affected by the top causes of death.
Pneumonia (56%), severe sepsis (52.0%), cerebrovascular diseases (59.0%), heart failure (50.0%), and cancer (49.0%) were most common among the elderly.
Among adults, chronic liver disease (72.0%), septic shock (48.0%), and diabetes (50.0%) were prevalent.
Stroke was widely reported among both adult and elderly groups.
The role and purpose of the report
This comprehensive statistical report provides critical insight into patterns and characteristics of deaths across Ghana in 2022.
It covers total registered deaths, regional distribution, cause and place of death, and place of burial.
The main objective of the report is to support data-driven public policy and informed decision-making.
Legal mandate and reporting standards
The 2022 Statistical Report on Deaths Registration was prepared in accordance with the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 2020 (Act 1027), which mandates the Registry to record all births, deaths, and fetal deaths in Ghana.
The Act also decentralises the Registry’s operations to improve data collection and inform national development.
Significance of death registration for national planning
The report is a major step toward promoting transparency and accountability in the use of national demographic data.
Accurately recording deaths contributes to better understanding of mortality trends, public health planning, resource allocation, and formulation of policies based on evidence.
Death statistics are vital for tracking diseases, measuring healthcare effectiveness, and identifying needs in medical infrastructure.
Administrative importance for families
On a personal level, death registration remains crucial for individuals and families as it provides legal documentation required for settling estates, claiming benefits, and resolving administrative matters concerning the deceased.
